Zaire 1751

Editor: This is "Zaire," an undated engraving by Noël Le Mire, currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. It depicts a dramatic scene with a fallen figure in the foreground. I'm struck by the density of line work, and wonder about its purpose. What can you tell me about this piece? Curator: Considering Le Mire’s work as reproductive engraver, we must examine the labor involved in translating images. His skill would have been valuable in disseminating theatrical imagery, making it accessible as a commodity to a wider audience. How might this impact our understanding of Voltaire’s play, and its consumption? Editor: That’s interesting. So the engraving is as much about making the play accessible as it is about the art itself? Curator: Precisely. The value shifts from unique artwork to a reproducible commodity. It's about how images circulate and the social networks that enable this. Editor: That gives me a totally different way of thinking about engravings! Curator: Indeed, examining the materials and means of production reveals much about the culture that produced it.