The Breakfast Table 1883 - 1884

Editor: Here we have John Singer Sargent's "The Breakfast Table", currently housed in the Harvard Art Museums. The brushstrokes are so loose, especially on the tablecloth. What do you make of Sargent's focus here? Curator: Notice how Sargent depicts the material wealth through the objects: the silver, the fine china, the abundance of food. Consider the labor involved in maintaining such a display, the social class it represents, and the consumer culture it implies. Editor: So, it's less about the aesthetic pleasure and more about the...production? Curator: Precisely. By examining the materiality and the means of production, we uncover the social context embedded within this seemingly simple breakfast scene. We can better see what life was like at this time for the upper class. Editor: I hadn’t considered the labor involved, I was too focused on the flowers! Curator: By understanding the materials and their origins, we gain a deeper appreciation for the complex social dynamics at play.