6 of 7 etchings in Porfolio: White Mammals 1998

Curator: Here we have Kiki Smith's etching, "6 of 7 etchings in Portfolio: White Mammals," housed here at Harvard. Editor: My first thought? It's hauntingly beautiful. The stark white and gray, that single, suspended form—it feels both vulnerable and powerful. Curator: The composition is strikingly minimal, isn't it? Smith isolates the figure, emphasizing its texture and form. Note how she uses the etching technique to create a nuanced surface. Editor: It's like she's stripped away everything but the raw essence of the animal, its animality. I wonder what sort of commentary she might be making about humanity through this lens. Curator: The very title "White Mammals" suggests a broader exploration of shared biological traits, the animal within us all. The print becomes an exercise in reduction, essentializing mammalian form. Editor: It's unsettling but also invites empathy. I keep thinking about what it means to see something stripped bare like this. Curator: Indeed, and it's this very tension, between stark observation and emotive response, that makes Smith's work so compelling. Editor: It’s a powerful piece that lingers. I will not easily forget this ghostly portrait.