Tax Collector c. 18th century

Curator: Here we have Cornelis Ploos van Amstel’s “Tax Collector,” housed right here at the Harvard Art Museums. There's an undeniable density to the composition. Editor: The mood seems… tense. The figures are crammed into a small space. I immediately wonder about power dynamics. Curator: I see the interplay of light and shadow creating visual interest. The lines, particularly in the faces, are so expressive. Editor: And whose labor allows for such fine details to be created? I notice the bulging bags of money; who is being exploited in this scenario, and how did Amstel view this exchange? Curator: The layering of forms, the overlapping figures—it creates a sense of depth. Editor: It reminds us that behind every artistic creation is a web of social relations, often defined by inequality. Curator: Indeed. The artist has certainly crafted a compelling visual field. Editor: And by questioning that field, we understand the past and how its power structures endure.