Sketch of Arthur B. 1931

Curator: Here we have a sketch by Denman Waldo Ross. It's a preliminary study, titled “Sketch of Arthur B.”, made with graphite on paper. Editor: It strikes me as vulnerable, almost fragile, like a fleeting thought caught on paper. Those construction lines, though—are they meant to dissect or liberate the figure? Curator: I think they reveal the artist's process, his exploration of form and proportion. It’s like he’s building the figure from the inside out, using geometry as his guide. Editor: Yes, but it's also reminiscent of an anatomical drawing or a diagram – stripping bare, while also creating layers of meaning. It really resonates with the idea of art-making itself as an act of dissection. Curator: I see your point, but I also sense an intimacy. The sketchiness and imperfection give it a raw, honest quality. You know? As though we're peeking into the artist's studio. Editor: Perhaps. It's definitely a piece that invites you to consider what we reveal and what we conceal, about ourselves and our intentions. Curator: Absolutely, and that's the beauty of it, isn't it? It's not just a sketch of Arthur B.; it's a sketch of an idea, a process, and a dialogue. Editor: A dialogue with ourselves. And I guess, in a way, with Arthur B. as well.