Two Men, One Smoking c. 17th century

Curator: This is Frans van der Steen's "Two Men, One Smoking," a small etching held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Immediately, the composition strikes me; the closeness of these figures creates this wonderfully intimate, albeit slightly unsettling, mood. Curator: Indeed. It reflects a time when the depiction of lower social strata became more common, though often filtered through a critical, classist lens. The smoking itself becomes a symbolic act. Editor: Right, there's a certain theatricality to their grimy faces. They almost seem to be in on some sort of joke, maybe at the viewer's expense? Their clothing is very evocative, too. Curator: Absolutely. The rough garments and unkempt appearance speak volumes about social hierarchies and the artist's perspective on the working class. How does their marginalization play out in your perspective? Editor: I feel a sense of shared humanity in their imperfections, a camaraderie in the shared act of smoking. But I understand your point about the possible classist undertones. Curator: This piece reminds us to critically examine the stories we tell and the power dynamics inherent in representation. Editor: I'm left contemplating the duality of its appeal—the grittiness and also the strangely endearing portrait of companionship that van der Steen has sketched.