La Science c. 16th century

Editor: This is "La Science," an anonymous drawing at the Harvard Art Museums. The sepia tones give it a classical feel, and the figure looks like a female scholar. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a powerful statement about the pursuit of knowledge, but also a reflection of its historical accessibility. Notice the books, the astrolabe, the hourglass: emblems of learning. Editor: Right. It almost feels staged, though. Curator: Precisely! Who was afforded this kind of scholarly pursuit? And how were they represented? The drawing invites us to consider the politics of knowledge and representation. Editor: It really makes you wonder about the artist's intentions and the context of the work's creation. Curator: Exactly! And that's where the real dialogue begins.