Portrait of a Boy Reading 1909

Editor: Here we have "Portrait of a Boy Reading" by Denman Waldo Ross, residing here at Harvard Art Museums. I'm struck by the texture of the paint itself, creating a tactile experience. What do you see in terms of the materiality and production of this piece? Curator: Well, the visible brushstrokes show the labor involved. But, considering the social context, who had the leisure to sit for a portrait, and who had access to education and books? These material conditions are deeply intertwined with class. Editor: That's a very different lens than I usually consider. Curator: It makes you question who is being represented, why, and what materials and labor make it possible. Something to consider. Editor: Definitely. I'll be pondering that for some time. Thanks!