Index Magazine | Harvard Art Museums

This colorful painting shows various shapes—some are white with black and red squiggly lines, and a few are in varying shades of solid blue, yellow, or red—against a largely white background. At the top of the painting is a band of beige and a thin line of aqua blue. A band of bluish-gray is at the bottom.

40 Works for 40 Years: Celebrating the German Friends of the Busch-Reisinger Museum

We are delighted to present a selection of 40 works from the Busch-Reisinger Museum’s collection that reflect 40 years of meaningful, generous support.

October 16, 2023

A white marble sculpture depicts a woman in a loosely draped garment with eyes closed; she leans heavily on a staff at her right side and her left hand is cupped to her ear.

Reconstructing the Staff of Nydia, the Blind Flower Girl of Pompeii

Objects conservation fellow Adrienne Gendron shares the story of Nydia, a sculpture representing a heroine from a 19th-century novel, and the thoughtful considerations behind her conservation approach.

By Adrienne Gendron

September 13, 2023

A framed color photograph depicts a brightly illuminated living room crowded with dozens of photographs along with walls and floor. There is also a table with a laptop, a kitchen area, and a hanging plant. The work is on a wooden easel.

Voices from the Collections: Photographer Guanyu Xu in Conversation with Curatorial Fellow Jackson Davidow

Curatorial fellow Jackson Davidow recently talked with photographer Guanyu Xu about his work Worlds Within Worlds, which has just been acquired by the Harvard Art Museums, as well as his artistic process.

By Jackson Davidow

June 25, 2023

An open book reveals rows of Coptic letters, handwritten in dark brown ink. The pages are darkened, and the frail edges are irregular.

Seeking Divine Answers in Ancient Christian Egypt

An ancient Egyptian manuscript at the Harvard Art Museums reveals how early Christian pilgrims received not-so-random answers from God.

By Chance Bonar

May 21, 2023

A woodblock print shows a sparrow perched on a branch. The painting is executed in black ink and delicate gradations of color.

Art by the Book: The Many Uses of Woodblock Painting Manuals

By Krystle Brown

May 3, 2023

A man looks down at a box filled with various stacks of photographs.

American Soldier Photography

Curatorial fellow Jackson Davidow considers the genre of soldier photography, looking closely at examples in the museums’ photography collection, including works recently gifted to the museums.

By Jackson Davidow

April 12, 2023

Year in Review: 2022

Take a moment to look back with us as we celebrate 2022!

December 20, 2022

This painting, mostly in olive hues, depicts an African American soldier in uniform, with a window behind him.

Roundtable Conversation: WHERE ARE ALL THE BLACK PEOPLE AT, on Vernacular Photography

Last summer, photography curator Makeda Best met with people associated with the Boston-based grassroots arts initiative WHERE ARE ALL THE BLACK PEOPLE AT to discuss a painting of an unidentified Black soldier, visibility in the museums, and the impact of an installation of photographs depicting eve...

By Makeda Best

December 1, 2022

This full-length painting shows a standing female figure draped in a sheer robe that covers her from neck to ankle. In front of her feet is a checkered rug, on top of which lies a yellow flower. In the background is a cascade of white blossoms and a patterned curtain. The painting is surrounded by a gold frame with linear running-bead ornamentation.

Reframing Albert Moore’s Study for “Blossoms”: Historical Design, Contemporary Production

Read how a curatorial fellow and frame conservator teamed up to create a historically accurate reproduction of an unusual 19th-century frame.

By Allison Jackson, Sophie Lynford

June 13, 2022

Two side-by-side images each show a sculpture of a falcon wearing a crown. The sculpture is atop a small platform. The images face each other. The image at left is a black and white X-radiograph, which reveals internal elements of the sculpture. The image at right is a color photograph and shows the sculpture as brownish-green set against a neutral gray ground.

Introducing the Art + Science Pathway

Stories about what’s hidden within a selection of works—discovered through technical analysis—are now highlighted in the galleries.

By Sophie Lynford, Kate Smith

May 27, 2022

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