Senators and Governors 1675

Curator: What a procession! It feels like a dream, all these figures riding out of some ancient myth. Editor: Indeed. Here we have "Senators and Governors" by Antoinette Bouzonnet-Stella, held here at the Harvard Art Museums. It’s an engraving on laid paper. Curator: Those horses look so spirited, even stylized as they are. And everyone seems to be heading somewhere important. Or nowhere at all! Editor: Considering the socio-political context of 17th-century Europe, this procession possibly embodies ideals of governance and leadership. The figures could represent the virtues and responsibilities expected of rulers. Curator: Perhaps, but I also see a parade of our own follies. That sense of self-importance riding high! Editor: Right, and viewed through today’s lens, the lack of diversity raises some serious questions about historical power structures. Curator: Mmm, I’m now seeing it as something more critical—a reflection on who gets to be remembered, and how history is shaped by those in power. Editor: And the engraving itself—the line work, the detail—becomes a testament to the systems that perpetuate such narratives. Curator: In the end, I’m left wondering: Are we doomed to repeat these processions, in different forms, forever? Editor: A grim thought, but one worth pondering. It is a conversation starter.