Departure for the Market c. 18th century

Curator: Here we have Anne Philiberte Coulet's "Departure for the Market," currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's charming! There's a rustic simplicity, a certain grounded quality. I imagine the air smells of earth and whatever's in those barrels! Curator: As an 18th-century printmaker, Coulet was navigating the social and artistic landscape of her time. This image offers a glimpse into the lives of ordinary people, albeit idealized. Editor: Idealized, yes, but I still feel a genuine connection. The tilted roofline, the laden donkey, it's all very human. There's a story brimming just beneath the surface, isn't there? Curator: Indeed. It also tells the story of artistic production in 18th century Europe, with a woman artist gaining recognition within academic circles. Editor: It's lovely to imagine her, etching this scene. A departure for her too, in a way.