Head c. 19th century

Curator: Here we have Isidore Désiré Regnier’s "Head," currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It appears to be a study of a sculpture... quite delicate, almost ethereal in its rendering of light and shadow. Curator: Indeed. The work is a print, likely an engraving or etching, based on a bas-relief attributed to Jean Goujon. It depicts Marie Goujon. Think about the historical implications of the white, male gaze and how Regnier reproduces it. Editor: The process of reproduction is key here. Regnier's craft mediates Goujon's original work and allows the image to be disseminated widely, transforming its social function. Curator: Absolutely. And what does it say about the artist's role when they appropriate the works of others and circulate them in new social contexts? Editor: It becomes a question of labor, of the artistic means of production. Who gets to create, who gets to copy, and who gets to consume. Curator: A fascinating lens through which to view this work! Editor: Indeed, I see the gears of production at work... thank you!