Joliot de Crébillon c. 18th century

Editor: This is Étienne Ficquet's portrait of Joliot de Crébillon, housed at the Harvard Art Museums. It's quite small but meticulously detailed. I’m intrigued by the contrast between the luxurious fur collar and the writhing snakes at the bottom. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a carefully constructed image, reflective of the labor and materials that went into its production. The etching process, the quality of the paper, all contribute to the status of both the artist and the sitter. What does the inclusion of snakes suggest about Ficquet’s and Crébillon’s understanding of creative labor? Editor: That's a great question. I hadn't considered the materials themselves as conveying meaning. Curator: Exactly. Think about the consumption of images like these, and who had access to them. It shapes our understanding. Editor: I see it now, it’s like a chain of value. Curator: Indeed, from the artist’s hand to the collector’s wall, each step adds to the portrait's significance. Editor: Thanks, I will definitely look for this the next time I'm at the museum.