David c. 19th century

Editor: This is a bronze sculpture entitled "David," by Alfred George Stevens, housed here at Harvard. The figure's pose seems to suggest imminent action. What formal qualities strike you most? Curator: The interplay of light and shadow across the textured surface immediately commands attention. Notice how the artist utilizes varying depths of relief to articulate the musculature, lending a dynamic quality to the figure. Editor: So the artist’s focus is on how the light plays off the form, rather than narrative? Curator: Precisely. The composition invites contemplation on the formal relationships between mass and void, surface and depth. Editor: This has really helped me think about sculpture in a new way. Curator: Indeed, a close formal reading reveals a sophisticated understanding of sculptural principles.