Angelica c. 20th century

Curator: Oh, my first thought is gothic garden! Editor: You're right, it does possess a shadowy quality. We’re looking at Wilhelm Heise’s "Angelica," held here at the Harvard Art Museums. The date is unknown. Curator: You can really feel the hand in this. It's so detailed, almost obsessive, with its rendering of botanical textures. Editor: Indeed, the work clearly privileges the material and labor required to produce such intricate detail in black and white etching. Curator: I see each vegetable as a portrait, full of personality. But, also, the work kind of implies that food is precious. Editor: And I think the scale also emphasizes the means of production, as the artist had to spend days, weeks maybe, on this etching. Curator: It’s interesting how something so mundane as garden vegetables can evoke such powerful feelings. Editor: The labor behind the art is more important than the depiction here, don't you think? Curator: I get lost in the tiny, beautiful details. Editor: Fascinating!