Jordina and Jorindel c. 19th century

Curator: This is George Cruikshank's "Jordina and Jorindel," housed right here at the Harvard Art Museums. It's an etching. Editor: It has the feel of a shadowy dream, doesn’t it? So much contrast, all crammed into this ornate archway. Curator: Consider the etching process itself. Cruikshank employed acid to bite into the metal plate, allowing for a great number of impressions, thus making the artwork available to the masses. Editor: And what a scene: a chase, a witch, a brave figure with a pointy hat...it's like a snippet of a half-remembered bedtime story, all cages and gothic architecture. Curator: The high gothic style interior would have been seen as out of date by the time the work was produced, yet it evokes a fantasy realm within reach of its intended consumers. Editor: So much drama and detail from just a plate, acid, and ink—it truly captures the magic and fear of fairy tales. Curator: Yes, and it speaks to the democratization of art through printmaking at that moment. Editor: A fascinating intersection of craft, story, and social reach.