Rouen Cathedral 1834

Editor: This is Thomas Higham's "Rouen Cathedral," the date is unknown, and it's currently at the Harvard Art Museums. The crowd feels so alive and bustling compared to the cold, austere architecture. What do you see in this piece? Curator: This cathedral represents more than just religious devotion. Consider the power dynamics inherent in such massive structures. Who was involved in its construction? Whose labor was exploited to build it? Editor: So, you're saying it's a symbol of both faith and oppression? Curator: Precisely. And the bustling crowd? They are existing both inside and outside of these rigid power structures. Editor: That's a powerful way to see it. I’ll never look at cathedrals the same way again. Curator: Art always reveals so much more when we consider its broader context.