Pepita c. 19th century

Curator: This is "Pepita" by Charles-Michel Geoffroy. Geoffroy, born in 1819, was a prominent artist in his time, and this piece is held in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It has a quiet, almost wistful feel, doesn't it? All that fabric... I wonder about the conditions of its production. Curator: Indeed. Consider the role of fashion. Depicting her in such a gown served to reinforce certain class and gender ideals. Editor: And the book she holds? It represents access to knowledge, yes, but also reflects the burgeoning print culture of the era. What materials were used? Curator: That's where we see how the image itself participates in a broader system of representation. Editor: It makes me wonder about the labor involved in the creation of every aspect of this image. From the ink to the paper. Curator: A lens into a particular moment. Editor: Revealing a small piece of history.