Niobe, after antiquity before 1789

Editor: This is Nathaniel Marchant's "Niobe, after antiquity," a small, delicate intaglio. It’s interesting how such a miniature object could carry so much weight. What’s your take on this piece? Curator: Considering Marchant's materials—the stone itself and the tools he used—reveal a fascinating tension. This intaglio is not simply a representation of Niobe's grief, but also a product of specific labor and consumption practices of his time. How does its intimate scale affect our understanding of Niobe's story? Editor: That's a great point. I hadn't considered the act of creation itself as part of the narrative. Curator: Exactly! The object's materiality allows us to consider the market for such items and the social status they conveyed. This challenges the notion of art as purely aesthetic. Editor: I see it now. Looking at it in terms of materials and process really opens up a new perspective. Curator: Indeed, it encourages us to think about art beyond representation and more as a product of its time, embedded in a network of labor and exchange.