Melpomene, after the Antique c. 19th century

Curator: This is Jean-Baptiste-Raphael-Urbain Massard’s "Melpomene, after the Antique," housed right here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: The somber mood really strikes me, especially with the mask of tragedy she holds. There's a theatrical gravitas conveyed through this print. Curator: Indeed, Massard, working in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, was deeply engaged with Neoclassicism. This print speaks volumes about the cultural fascination with antiquity. Editor: Considering the printmaking process, it seems to democratize the image of Melpomene, making her accessible beyond the elite who might possess sculptures. Curator: Precisely. The very act of creating multiple prints shifts our focus from unique object to reproducible commodity, subtly altering the artwork's cultural function. Editor: And, by extension, it amplifies the muse's symbolic reach, permeating public consciousness in new and profound ways. It leaves us thinking about the power of representation and its means of distribution.