Mercury c. 19th century

Editor: So, this is Ferdinand Gaillard's "Mercury," housed here at Harvard Art Museums. It looks like it's a print. The figure seems so serene, almost contemplative. How do you interpret this work? Curator: Well, the figure of Mercury, or Hermes in Greek mythology, is ripe with political and social meaning. As the messenger god, he represents communication, trade, even trickery. Consider how that image might have been used, and by whom. Editor: So, the artist might be using Mercury as a symbol? Curator: Precisely! Who controlled the narrative around communication and commerce at the time this was made? What was the artist trying to say about that power? Editor: That’s fascinating. I hadn’t considered the public role that Mercury might play! Curator: Right? It makes you think about the politics of imagery, and how artists engage with it.