Mrs. Wolff c. 19th century

Editor: So, this is John Bromley's "Mrs. Wolff," date unknown, at the Harvard Art Museums. It looks like graphite on paper, and it seems to capture a quiet, domestic scene. What stands out to you? Curator: I’m interested in the labor embedded in this seemingly simple image. Consider the paper itself – its production, its cost. Graphite, too, required mining and processing. How does the relative accessibility of these materials affect who gets to create art and whose stories are told? Editor: That's a really interesting point I had not considered. Thank you. Curator: Think about the social context, too. This intimate scene, the leisure time it suggests – is that available to everyone? Whose labor supports this moment of quiet contemplation?