Scene 4: Bedtime for the Boys 2020 - 2021

Curator: LaToya M. Hobbs created this large-scale woodcut, "Scene 4: Bedtime for the Boys," depicting a domestic scene. The artwork is currently in the Harvard Art Museums' collection. Editor: The stark black and white gives it a powerful, almost dreamlike quality. What strikes me most is the texture; you can almost feel the grain of the wood. Curator: Woodcut as a medium is significant. Historically, it was used for broadsides and printed books. Hobbs elevates it to depict Black domesticity. Editor: Exactly, the labor-intensive process mirroring the everyday labor within the home, the care work. The toys scattered on the rug, the Basquiat print, the tent; they speak volumes about materiality and lived experience. Curator: The visual language is deeply rooted in socio-political contexts as well, challenging historical representations of Black families. Editor: It's a poignant piece that makes you think about family, work, and the stories told through objects and the labor of making art. Curator: It certainly offers us a unique lens through which to examine family dynamics, representations, and the public perception of private moments.