Head of a Man and a Tree; verso: blank page c. 1758

Curator: This is Jean-Honoré Fragonard's drawing, "Head of a Man and a Tree," housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. It measures about 24 by 16 centimeters. Editor: The red chalk gives the head a spectral, almost haunted quality, wouldn't you agree? It's like a fleeting memory on the page. Curator: Well, Fragonard was working during a time of immense social and political upheaval. This sketch might reflect the anxieties of the era, a premonition perhaps. Editor: The tree too, though small, feels like a symbol. Its roots hidden, the branches reaching out like grasping hands. I see fragility and resilience intertwined. Curator: It's intriguing how these seemingly disparate images – the head, the tree – converge on this small piece of paper. Perhaps reflecting humanity's connection with nature. Editor: This sketch becomes a poignant meditation on mortality and the enduring spirit of life. Curator: Indeed, something to consider as we look at our place in the continuum of history.