Untitled (men smoking and drinking) 1947

Curator: What a striking image. This is John Howell's "Untitled (men smoking and drinking)," held at the Harvard Art Museums. It measures roughly 4 by 5 inches. Editor: The negative space makes the scene feel almost ghostly. It's a group of men, all in suits, smoking and drinking, a tableau of mid-century masculinity. Curator: The social context of such a gathering is fascinating. Suits denote power, while smoking and drinking suggest leisure, but also perhaps stress. The ritual of it all, the materials of wealth and status on display. Editor: I see those repetitive gestures as symbolic. Each man holds his glass, each holds a cigarette, almost like holding totems of their shared social identity. Curator: And what about the labor behind those suits, those drinks? The process of manufacturing such items for their consumption is crucial. Editor: That may be true, but I can't help but focus on the symbolism of the glass and the smoke, the rituals they are undertaking. Curator: Food for thought on how the materiality and symbols connect. Editor: Indeed, a study in contrasts.