The School Room c. 1655s

Curator: This is Cornelis Bega’s "The School Room," housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. It’s a drawing in pen, brown ink, and wash on paper. Editor: My first thought is that this piece has a very sobering, almost oppressive tone. Look at how cramped the pupils are. Curator: It definitely prompts questions about labor. Consider the social expectations of education during Bega's time, the materials used—paper, ink—and who had access to them. Education was often a privilege tied to social class. Editor: I see the materiality, but I also notice the gestures. The master’s raised hand speaks volumes about power dynamics in the classroom. Curator: Precisely. And beyond class, we can examine gender. Are there girls present? If not, what does that suggest about the expectations placed on women's intellect and education at the time? Editor: It’s amazing how a simple drawing can reveal so much about the socio-economic and cultural landscape of its time. Curator: Indeed, by looking closely, we gain valuable insights into the lives and social structures of the past.