Man and Woman Drinking 1706 - 1707

Curator: This is "Man and Woman Drinking," an engraving by John Smith, who lived from 1641 to 1690. It's currently held in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: There's a palpable tension in the composition. The way the man's hand rests on the woman's shoulder, the shadows... it feels unsettling. Curator: It reflects a societal unease. Taverns were often spaces of social mixing, sometimes viewed with suspicion, particularly concerning gender roles and public behavior. Editor: The artist's use of light and shadow, particularly around the faces, really emphasizes the emotional weight of the scene. The woman's upward gaze is particularly striking. Curator: Indeed. Smith uses the conventions of genre scenes to explore the complex social dynamics of the time. These images served as moral commentary for the rising middle class. Editor: It is fascinating how an artist can use light, line and form to create a window into another era. Curator: Right. It's not just a picture of drinking; it's a lens through which we can view the anxieties of early modern society.