Drawing for "Guilty" ["Sniff, sniff."] 2004

Curator: This pen and ink drawing by Karl Stevens is titled “Drawing for 'Guilty' ['Sniff, sniff.']” and is part of the Harvard Art Museums collection. Editor: The first thing that strikes me is the feeling of awkwardness it conveys. The figures seem trapped, almost staged. Curator: The four panels depict a woman sniffing, the man hears it, and she responds with, "Oh!". It speaks to the gendered power dynamics so often present in professional environments. The man's questioning expression contrasts with the woman’s silent awareness. Editor: I agree. But for me, the visual symbols of the office space add to that tension—the desks acting as barriers, the chairs seeming to isolate them further. The sniff itself becomes almost ritualistic, a coded form of communication. Curator: Absolutely. This work acts as a visual shorthand for microaggressions and the subtle ways that sexism manifests in everyday interactions. It makes us question our assumptions about power and vulnerability. Editor: It is a seemingly simple exchange, elevated by the artwork to something larger, tapping into something universal about our shared human experience. Curator: Well, that's certainly given me a new perspective. Thank you.