The First Steps c. 1780 - 1785

Curator: This intimate drawing is titled "The First Steps" by Jean-Honoré Fragonard. It's a delicate sketch in graphite on paper, held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It strikes me as a fleeting moment, almost dreamlike, rendered with such lightness. The figures seem to emerge from a hazy background. Curator: Indeed, the sketchy quality speaks to the informality that defined much of Fragonard's art, especially in his depictions of domesticity among the French upper class. It reflects ideas about family and childhood during the Enlightenment. Editor: And the child taking those initial steps... the archetypal symbolism there resonates across cultures—the vulnerability, the anticipation of growth, the supporting hands of the mothers. Curator: Fragonard’s focus wasn't merely on capturing a literal representation, but more on evoking sentiment and social values related to family, community, and childhood. Editor: It makes you consider the societal pressures placed upon children, even then, to achieve milestones and meet expectations. Curator: Absolutely. The drawing operates on many levels: personal, historical, symbolic. Editor: It's a tender reminder of the universal, yet socially constructed, experiences of early childhood and family dynamics.