Walter Nelson with Hand to his Chin 1926

Editor: This is a pencil sketch of a man named Walter Nelson, with his hand to his chin. It's by Denman Waldo Ross. The sketch feels very intimate and personal. What does this drawing evoke for you? Curator: I notice how the sketch is unfinished, seemingly a preparatory study. These lines offer insight into the academic art world and its emphasis on anatomical drawing. What message was Ross trying to convey? Editor: It's interesting to see the artist's process so clearly. So, the incomplete nature, the sketched lines, are themselves part of the statement? Curator: Precisely. It prompts us to question the role of finish and perfection in academic art, and consider the politics of representation within that context. Editor: That’s given me a lot to consider about the role of art education and its effect on art production! Curator: Me too! Thank you for your curiosity.