Passage of the Granicus 1672

Curator: Oh, wow, what a scene! It's like a swirling tempest of bodies and horses caught in mid-air. There's such raw, chaotic energy. Editor: Indeed. This is Gérard Audran's "Passage of the Granicus," housed right here at the Harvard Art Museums. It depicts a pivotal moment from Alexander the Great's military campaigns, specifically his daring crossing of the Granicus River in 334 BCE. The print captures not just a historical event, but also the construction of Alexander's heroic image. Curator: Heroic is one word for it. I see a lot of suffering, bodies tangled and crushed. What about the perspectives of those unnamed soldiers caught in the imperial war machine? Editor: Precisely! Audran, working from a design by Charles Le Brun, situates Alexander as the focal point of power and bravery, embedding him in a narrative that legitimizes conquest and dominance. The detailed rendering of classical armor and weaponry reinforces this ideology. Curator: Makes you think, doesn't it? This isn't just art, it's a carefully constructed story about power. Editor: Absolutely. It's a visual document that reflects the socio-political values of its time and continues to prompt critical discussions about the legacies of empire and representation. Curator: Okay, I'm leaving with a heavy heart, but also a much wider vision. Editor: As am I. It seems that art, whether intentionally or not, opens our eyes to wider truths.