Head of One of Laocoön's Sons, after the Antique c. 1803

Curator: Jean-André Getti's plaster cast, "Head of One of Laocoön's Sons, after the Antique," housed here at Harvard, depicts the agony of a figure from classical mythology. Editor: The contorted face immediately draws you in, doesn't it? The mouth agape, the brow furrowed—pure, unfiltered suffering rendered in stark white. Curator: Indeed. The original sculpture embodies a very specific patriarchal narrative, the suffering of men as the centerpiece of high art, which raises critical questions about whose pain is centered, and why. Editor: But look at the subtle gradations of light across the cheekbones, the way the curls are both chaotic and meticulously rendered. There is the clear influence of Hellenistic sculpture. Curator: Absolutely, and Getti's reproduction allows us to continue to interrogate the impact of these classical forms on contemporary power structures. Editor: It's a powerful reminder of how artistic skill can immortalize even the most unpleasant aspects of human experience. Curator: I agree, and how critical engagement can bring new levels of insight.