Henry A. Cochrane in Profile 1890

Curator: This delicate pencil drawing is entitled "Henry A. Cochrane in Profile" by Denman Waldo Ross, part of the Harvard Art Museums collection. Editor: There's an immediacy in the sketch work, a rawness that gives it such presence despite the simple materials. Curator: The profile holds a powerful significance, doesn't it? The subject turns away, suggesting introspection, a noble quest perhaps? Editor: I think it's just a quick study, really, likely graphite on paper. Look at the rapid strokes—function over formal portraiture. Curator: Maybe, but consider the artistic lineage of portraiture—it's about establishing identity, legacy... Editor: Or it's about the sheer physical act of drawing. The paper, the pencil, the hand...it's a record of labor. Curator: Perhaps both are true. It's interesting how layers of meaning are revealed through simple means. Editor: Yes, even in the humblest of art materials, we find so much to appreciate.