Pietro Aretino c. 17th century

Curator: This is Cornelis van Dalen the Younger's portrait of Pietro Aretino, housed at the Harvard Art Museums. The print captures Aretino, the infamous Renaissance writer and satirist. Editor: He looks like he's judging me, even through the centuries. I can almost feel the weight of that book in his hands. Curator: Consider the meticulous engraving. Dalen’s printmaking process, likely etching or a similar intaglio technique, allowed for detailed reproductions, essential for disseminating images of influential figures. Editor: It's all about control, isn't it? The way the light falls, the deliberate composition... it's like he's curating his own image for posterity. Curator: Exactly. Prints like these weren't just art; they were commodities, circulating ideas and shaping perceptions of power and intellect within a growing print market. Editor: I still sense vulnerability under that impressive beard. As though he knows his words, his image, might outlive him – and that’s a terrifying thought. Curator: A fascinating tension, isn't it? It makes you consider the power dynamics embedded within image making. Editor: Right? That's what stayed with me, too.