A Group of Eight Figures c. 17th century

Editor: This is Hendrick Goudt's "A Group of Eight Figures" from around the early 17th century, housed at the Harvard Art Museums. It's a small drawing and the figures seem to be emerging from the shadows. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Look at the etching technique. The artist’s labor, the acids used, the very paper itself – these are commodities. Consider, too, who could afford such prints and what role these images played in shaping perceptions of class and societal structure. Editor: So, it’s less about the individual figures and more about the system that allowed the artwork to exist? Curator: Precisely. By focusing on the material conditions, we can deconstruct narratives of artistic genius and consider how art reflects and reinforces economic realities. I find that far more revealing. Editor: That’s a very different way of looking at art. Thanks!