Boy Sitting on Footwarmer c. 17th century

Curator: Here we have Cornelis Saftleven’s “Boy Sitting on Footwarmer,” housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It strikes me immediately as wonderfully intimate, a small, unassuming scene rendered with such delicate lines. Curator: Saftleven, active in the Dutch Golden Age, often depicted peasant life. Consider the social stratification; even warmth was a commodity. Editor: Indeed, the footwarmer isn't just an object, but speaks to the specific labor and resources required to even make such a warming object. The drawing's technique, the chalk itself, becomes a material witness. Curator: Precisely. Saftleven gives us a glimpse into the everyday life of those often unseen, offering a commentary on social structures. Editor: It’s a beautiful reminder that art can illuminate the mundane, revealing so much about the world from which it emerged.