Two Boys Asleep c. 18th century

Editor: This intriguing pencil drawing, simply called "Two Boys Asleep," is by an anonymous artist and resides at the Harvard Art Museums. What strikes me is the rough quality of the sketch. What do you make of its materiality? Curator: I am interested in the labor implicit in this drawing, in the time and effort expended to create even this seemingly casual sketch. Consider the paper itself, its production and cost, and then the artist's hand meticulously applying graphite. Editor: That’s interesting, I hadn’t thought about the value of the materials themselves. Curator: And what do you make of the boys' garments and the objects surrounding them? These details hint at their social status and perhaps the circumstances of their labor. Editor: I see. So, it's not just about aesthetic representation, but also about the economics of art production and the social context it reflects. Thanks, that’s a different perspective than I usually take. Curator: Indeed. By examining the materials and their manipulation, we uncover layers of meaning beyond the surface image.