Allen Parker 1932

Curator: This is "Allen Parker" a pencil drawing by Denman Waldo Ross, created around October 13th, 1932, currently residing here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: There's something strikingly vulnerable in the subject's gaze and the sketch-like quality. It feels like we're catching a glimpse of a fleeting moment. Curator: Ross's process is fascinating here. He's using underlying geometrical lines, almost a grid, to structure the portrait. This hints at his exploration of abstract principles. Editor: Yes, it is intriguing how Ross makes visible the means of production. The materiality of the pencil on paper and the geometric scaffolding highlight both the labor and the underlying structure. Curator: Precisely. It challenges the notion of spontaneous artistic genius by revealing the deliberate construction. And it connects to broader discussions on academic drawing versus modernist abstraction. Editor: I agree, it reminds us that even seemingly simple sketches are products of deliberate choices, reflecting artistic, social and intellectual currents. Thanks to this work we see the artist's process come alive.