Figure of a Woman 16th-17th century

Editor: This is "Figure of a Woman," from an anonymous artist. It looks like an engraving. The woman's gaze is averted, and she seems so demure. What do you make of it? Curator: It’s interesting that this image is housed at the Harvard Art Museums, and it is printed on a page with text. Such prints, often bound in books, circulated widely and influenced the perception of female forms. Consider how the institution of the book itself shaped viewers' understandings. What do you notice about the architectural element above the woman? Editor: It almost looks like she is carrying it! I hadn't thought about the book's influence or the architectural element. Curator: Exactly! These "antique" depictions were highly sought after, and their reproduction and circulation in print form democratized access, while also shaping taste and propagating specific aesthetic ideals. Editor: It makes you wonder about the power dynamics embedded in this image, and how they were amplified by its mass production. I'll look at prints much differently now!