The Forum c. 19th century

Curator: Here we have "The Forum," an undated print by Edward Goodall, part of the Harvard Art Museums collection. Editor: It’s immediately striking, isn't it? Like peering into the past through a crumbling, ancient window. There is this incredible sense of timelessness. Curator: Indeed. The medium itself, printmaking, has a rich history, often employed for disseminating images and ideas to a wider public, mirroring the Forum's role as a center of civic life. Editor: Makes you wonder, who saw this, where did it travel? Was it a souvenir, a history lesson? You can almost smell the dust and feel the sun-baked stones just looking at it. Curator: Considering Goodall’s likely access to specific printing technologies and materials, the print offers insight into 19th-century reproduction techniques and how they mediated views of antiquity. Editor: It's more than just a record; it's a portal. I feel a pang of longing, a connection to something vast and enduring. Curator: A great reminder of how materiality and context shape our understanding and experience. Editor: Exactly. It lingers, doesn't it? A whisper from history.