Sketches of Geese 19th-20th century

Curator: This is William Valentine Schevill’s "Sketches of Geese," housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. It measures 33 by 20.8 centimeters. Editor: It’s delicate, almost ephemeral. The sparse lines give a sense of lightness, of fleeting observation. Curator: Indeed. Note how Schevill captures the essence of each goose with minimal strokes. The composition, though seemingly random, reveals a careful distribution of forms across the paper. Editor: The open space becomes significant, framing these creatures. I wonder if Schevill intended to highlight the vulnerability of wildlife, the precariousness of their existence within encroaching human habitats. Curator: That's an interesting interpretation, though perhaps a projection of contemporary concerns. Schevill may have simply been exploring form and movement. Editor: Maybe so. It’s a testament to the piece that it invites such diverse readings. Curator: Precisely. It’s a study in pure form, and the lines create the different possibilities for thinking about our relationship with nature.