Resurrection c. 19th century

Editor: So this is Paul Chenay's "Resurrection," housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. It's a pen and ink drawing, and I’m struck by the visible hand of the artist, the almost frantic energy in the lines. What do you see in the means of production and making of this art? Curator: I see a direct connection to artistic labor. Chenay’s use of readily available materials like pen and ink flattens the hierarchy between high art and craft. What sort of labor was involved in the paper production, the ink, the trade of these materials? Editor: That's a fascinating point! I hadn't considered how the very accessibility of the materials impacts the work's interpretation. Curator: Precisely! By focusing on the materiality, we can deconstruct notions of artistic genius and appreciate the broader social and economic forces at play in the art's creation. Editor: I see what you mean! I will keep that in mind when viewing other works of art. Thanks!