Sketchbook page c. 1776

Curator: This is a sketchbook page by Gabriel Jacques de Saint-Aubin, housed at the Harvard Art Museums. The dimensions are intimate, only about 19 by 12 centimeters. Editor: It’s striking how immediate and alive these figures feel, captured with such minimal lines. There is an energy in the sketch that’s really compelling. Curator: Indeed. Given the inscription "du Cresson…fontaines" we can assume that this figure is a watercress seller from the fountain district. Editor: Yes, and thinking about that labor, we can consider the social hierarchy embedded in representing the working class in this manner—a quick sketch, perhaps done for his own amusement. Curator: It also speaks to the function of the sketchbook itself, as a site of preliminary study and the artist's immediate interaction with the world around them. Editor: The simplicity invites us to consider the lives and daily routines of ordinary people during this period. Curator: Ultimately, it’s a tangible record of observing, interpreting, and documenting daily life during the 18th century. Editor: A poignant glimpse into the past.