Jan Lutma c. 19th century

Curator: This is Charles Blanc’s “Jan Lutma,” a 19th-century engraving that now resides here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: The initial impression is one of quiet dignity, a portrait captured in deep blacks and soft greys. Curator: Lutma, the subject, was a celebrated goldsmith. Blanc, active in the 1800s, captured something timeless. Note the hat and the solemn look. Those objects tell a story. Editor: Absolutely, but who was Lutma? What were the societal expectations for him and his craft? The image holds a certain power, but to what end was that power used? Curator: Lutma's tools, barely visible on the table to the right, are signifiers of skill and ingenuity. Blanc’s work transmits respect and admiration for artisanal practice. Editor: It’s fascinating how such a small image can raise so many questions about labor, representation, and the gaze. Curator: Indeed, visual artifacts like this connect us across the ages. Editor: It prompts me to consider how histories of craft intersect with class and identity.