Funeral in Brittany 1897

Curator: Charles Cottet's "Funeral in Brittany," held in the Harvard Art Museums, presents a somber scene rendered in muted greens and yellows. Editor: Oh, it feels heavy, doesn't it? Like the grief is a tangible weight pressing down on those hooded figures. Curator: Cottet likely explored the social rituals surrounding death in Breton communities. Note the repetitive forms, suggesting mass production of mourning garments. Editor: The faces are so striking, though—each one etched with a distinct sorrow. I wonder about their stories, their relationships to the departed. Curator: These garments were made by local women, using specific weaves and dyes—a significant economic activity, reinforcing societal norms. Editor: To think that such a personal, wrenching experience could also be tied to the turning of a local economy. How strange and beautiful. Curator: Indeed, the visual weight of the image reflects the intertwined nature of grief, labor, and social identity. Editor: I see it now—layers upon layers, just like those heavy cloaks. Thanks, I feel like I've been to Brittany for an afternoon.