Egyptian Sunk Relief Depicting a King 1900

Curator: This sunk relief, attributed to Joseph Smith, depicts an Egyptian king. It's a rather modest size, about 55 by 37 centimeters, currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: My first impression? Melancholy. The faded hues and deeply etched lines create a sense of enduring history, but also, a palpable loss. I wonder about the king's story, the events surrounding his reign. Curator: The use of sunk relief is interesting. It's like the image is emerging from a dream, the figure both present and receding into the stone. It emphasizes permanence, and the enduring power of the Pharaoh. Editor: Absolutely, but let's also consider the context. Whose labor went into creating this piece? What political message was it meant to convey, and how might that message be interpreted differently today, after centuries of colonial intervention in Egypt? Curator: It makes you wonder about the weight of those elaborate headdresses. Power and burden, intertwined. Editor: Exactly. And reflecting on this image, I am reminded of the countless untold narratives that lie beneath the surface of even the most iconic representations of power.