Self-Help c. 1885

Editor: Laura Theresa Alma-Tadema's *Self-Help*, housed here at Harvard Art Museums, is a captivating view of childhood. The scene has an appealing domesticity that I quite like, but what do you see in this work? Curator: I'm struck by how the painting presents labor, even in childhood. Notice the sheer quantity of apples, likely reflecting agricultural production and distribution systems of the era. The child isn't simply eating; she’s engaging with the products of labor. Editor: So, you're saying it's not just a charming scene, but a reflection of economic realities? Curator: Precisely. Consider the materiality of the paint itself – oils, pigments sourced and processed to create this image, connecting the artwork to broader industries. Editor: I hadn't considered the art making labor itself. I appreciate that different perspective. Curator: Indeed, a seemingly simple image reveals layers of production and consumption when we look closely.