Rue Fromental, Paris c. 20th century

Editor: This is Herman Armour Webster's "Rue Fromental, Paris," held at the Harvard Art Museums. It appears to be an etching. I’m struck by how the textures of the buildings seem to dominate the composition. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Notice how the printmaking process, the precise labor of etching, transforms the Parisian street into a study of surfaces. The image flattens the architecture, reducing it to textures for mass consumption. Does this challenge your notion of "high art"? Editor: Definitely! Seeing it as a repeatable commodity changes my perspective. I hadn't considered the social context of printmaking itself. Thanks! Curator: Indeed, examining art through the lens of its production can reveal fascinating insights into its role within society.