Copy after the Figurine c. 17th century

Editor: Here we have Salvator Rosa's "Copy after the Figurine" housed at the Harvard Art Museums. It depicts three soldiers, seemingly exhausted. What story do you think Rosa is trying to tell here? Curator: Rosa often critiqued military culture and its glorification through his art. This print, while based on a figurine, echoes the visual language used to depict heroic soldiers, but subverts it. Editor: How so? Curator: Notice their dejected poses, the one soldier's veiled face. It contrasts sharply with the idealized strength typically associated with soldiery. It prompts us to question the true cost of war, doesn’t it? Editor: It does. I never considered how Rosa challenges those traditional representations. Curator: Exactly! By playing with established imagery, Rosa invites a critical reflection on the realities of conflict and its impact on individuals. Editor: I'll definitely look at art of this period differently now. Thanks!