Winter c. 18th century

Curator: This is "Winter," by James Smith, who lived from 1653 to 1793. The artwork currently resides here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's amazing how this stark, wintry scene manages to feel both lonely and lively all at once. Curator: Smith's print offers us insight into how winter activities were viewed, and how landscapes were depicted during that era. It's a fascinating intersection of social life and artistic representation. Editor: The frozen pond almost looks like a stage, doesn't it? Everyone seems to be performing for each other, or for us, the viewers. Curator: I think you're right; the act of observing and being observed was important. How we see people depicted is as important as the activity portrayed in this piece. Editor: Exactly, and despite the cold, there's this palpable sense of community. It makes you wonder, doesn't it, what it was like to be part of that world. Curator: Indeed, it gives us much to reflect on, even today.