Portrait of Sphinx: Etching 2 of 6 Possibly 1970

Curator: Ikeda Masuo's print, "Portrait of Sphinx," held here at the Harvard Art Museums, strikes me as profoundly melancholic. Editor: Oh, instantly. That subdued palette—the murky greens and reds against the stark figure—it's like peering into a forgotten dream. Curator: The composition, too. Note how the artist uses the rectangular blocks of color to frame this shrouded figure, heightening the sense of confinement. Editor: And that figure! The ambiguous embrace, the averted gaze... It's a portrait of longing, isn't it? Or maybe, just the loneliness of being seen. Curator: Perhaps a blend of both. The sphinx, typically a symbol of enigma, is here rendered vulnerable, human. A poignant subversion. Editor: It really makes you think about what we project onto art, doesn’t it? We’re all a little like that sphinx, hiding parts of ourselves. Curator: A deeply moving piece, one that stays with you. Editor: Absolutely. The quiet power of understated emotion.