Giuseppe Longhi c. 19th century

Curator: Welcome. We’re looking at a print of "Giuseppe Longhi" by Samuele Jesi, held here at the Harvard Art Museums. The tonality is striking. Editor: He seems like a serious dude, doesn't he? All shadows and pursed lips. I wonder what he was thinking. Curator: Note how the artist utilizes chiaroscuro to sculpt Longhi's features. The interplay of light and shadow creates depth and volume. Editor: The paper has a lovely texture too; I bet that makes the ink sit just so. You can almost feel it. Curator: Indeed. The print medium itself lends a certain gravity to the subject, a historical weight. Editor: Right, it captures a moment, an idea. And now we're here, looking back. How about that. Curator: Precisely. A dialogue across time, mediated by form and craft. Editor: Yes, always something more to discover, isn't there?