Figure of Agriculture or Commerce 1878

Editor: This is William Rimmer’s "Figure of Agriculture or Commerce," from the Harvard Art Museums. It's a delicate pencil sketch; the figures seem caught in a moment of labor. What can you tell me about this work? Curator: Considering Rimmer’s artistic milieu, it's crucial to examine the means of production depicted. These figures aren't just abstract ideals, but workers. How does Rimmer portray the labor involved in agriculture and commerce? Editor: I see the figures carrying things. It looks like hard work. Curator: Exactly. The physicality of their labor, rendered in pencil, raises questions about the value society placed on manual work versus intellectual pursuits. The sketch itself, a reproducible medium, democratizes the image, contrasting with the elite connotations of "high art.” Editor: That is interesting. I never thought about the pencil being part of the message. Curator: By thinking about the art in terms of the labor depicted and the art making itself, we see how the value of the work is being conveyed. Editor: It really changes how I view the piece!