Sketchbook: Figure Drawings c. 20th century

Curator: Here we have a page from Thomas Schofield Handforth’s "Sketchbook: Figure Drawings," part of the collection at the Harvard Art Museums. It is undated. Editor: It feels frenetic, almost dreamlike—a flurry of lines creating fleeting impressions. The quick strokes give it an incredible sense of immediacy. Curator: Handforth was known for his etchings and illustrations, often depicting scenes of everyday life. This sketchbook provides a glimpse into his artistic process. It shows us how he captured figures and environments through raw, unfiltered observation. Editor: Look at the economy of line. It almost becomes abstract in places, yet hints of human forms and landscapes emerge from the chaos. The composition seems almost deliberately unbalanced. Curator: Indeed. He was working during a time when artists were grappling with new ways to represent the world, challenging traditional academic approaches to form and perspective. Editor: It’s interesting to see how the rapid execution of these lines and marks, far from creating a finished product, offers such a window into the artist's thought process. Curator: Absolutely. It reveals the artist's hand, and the cultural influences and artistic movements that shaped Handforth's vision. Editor: It’s a wonderful reminder that art doesn’t always need to be polished to be powerful.