The Art of Feasting showcases the diversity and universality of food culture in the fine arts. This online and ongoing project, the outcome of the Faculty Tutorial The Art of Feasting, examines the impact of food on the holistic and shared human experience—the artworks engage with the historical realities of daily life, ritual engagement, communal values, and cultural development. ‘Feasting’ goes beyond food—it is the explicit and implicit formalization of a cultural practice that directly affects societal norms in the present day. The exhibit aims to provide multiple avenues for the viewer to explore the development and importance of food as a cultural cornerstone and to confront and think critically about how they engage with food and ‘feasting’ culture in their daily life.
Drawing from the collections of the Harvard Art Museums, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and other global collections, this platform includes a wide variety of works spanning continents, millennia, and media, from ritual vessels to photography. The material culture of food is an incredibly broad category, ranging from objects that directly interact with foodstuffs, those that portray them, and those that commemorate cultural impact. The works collected here represent key developments in feasting culture. Under "Ingredients," viewers can explore the art surrounding key agriculture products that transformed how we eat. "Explore" invites viewers to travel through time and across the globe, encountering both the sacred and the secular. Finally, "Themes" explore connections between works across time and culture. Enjoy the Art of Feasting!