Faneuil Hall and the Shop of John Simpson, Upholsterer 1891

Curator: Right, here we have Henry Robertson’s etching, "Faneuil Hall and the Shop of John Simpson, Upholsterer." Editor: Oh, it's got this antique, almost dreamy quality, like peering into a half-remembered story. Curator: Robertson, born in 1891, really captures the architectural textures. I'm struck by the contrast between the imposing Faneuil Hall and the more intimate scale of the shop beside it. The engraving technique emphasizes the materiality of the buildings. Editor: Yes, and that shop! I can almost smell the old leather and wood. It feels like the artist is reminding us that history is built not just of grand buildings, but of the everyday work of ordinary people. Curator: Absolutely. And those people relied on these objects we see represented here. Robertson’s choice to depict the shop really highlights the economic underpinnings of Boston's historical narrative. Editor: I love how a simple image can hold so much. It makes you think about what stories are contained within walls. Curator: Indeed. It's a potent reminder of the layers of history embedded in our built environment.