Alberto Durero c. 19th century

Curator: This is Moritz Steinla's "Alberto Durero," housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. What strikes you about it? Editor: There's a quiet intensity. It feels both intimate and distant, doesn't it? Who was Steinla trying to reach? Curator: Well, this print allows us to consider the labor involved in reproduction. Steinla, born in 1791, dedicated himself to replicating the image and likeness of the earlier master, Durer. Editor: This act of replication is powerful. It speaks to the complexities of artistic legacy, and how artists are continuously re-contextualized across historical moments. Curator: Absolutely, and when we focus on Steinla's technique, we start to understand the means and the physical demands of art production at the time. Editor: Thinking about the legacy and materiality really brings a depth to it. Curator: Agreed, there's more to see here than initially meets the eye.