Distrubing The Peace (French version) 2009

Editor: This piece is "Disturbing the Peace (French version)" by the Guerrilla Girls. It appears to be a print on paper featuring quotes attributed to famous men, layered over an image of a brick wall. It feels like a powerful, visually arresting protest. What's your take? Curator: It’s fascinating how the Guerrilla Girls use the visual language of graffiti and street art to critique the established art world and patriarchal structures. The brick wall becomes a symbolic barrier of ingrained misogyny. What impact do you think using French has? Editor: Well, it broadens the audience, maybe? Is it aimed at a specific cultural perception of French intellectualism? Curator: Precisely. It implicates a specific cultural history, making the criticism even more pointed. It uses the art world itself as a stage to challenge historical biases, don't you think? Editor: I do. Seeing these historical quotes in a contemporary format really brings home how persistent these attitudes are. Curator: Indeed. And thinking about where this piece is housed – the Harvard Art Museums – adds another layer to the dialogue. It creates institutional accountability, as well as broader social critique.