Three-Quarter Length Seated Young Man 19th-20th century

Curator: This is Denman Waldo Ross’s "Three-Quarter Length Seated Young Man," housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. I find the geometric construction particularly striking. Editor: Yes, the stark lines of the pencil on paper, the figure framed within a triangle… it all lends this piece an unsettling, almost claustrophobic, air. Curator: Indeed. This piece encourages us to consider how artistic training and academic settings might have influenced Ross's subjects and his process. I think the inscription at the bottom gives insight into his instructional methods. Editor: And perhaps also into the material conditions of art production? The availability of models, the costs of materials – all play a role in what gets created and how. Curator: Precisely. It is a fascinating glimpse into the educational and economic landscape of art-making. Editor: I agree, the sketch reveals constraints and also artistic explorations. A captivating study.