Harry Donovan 1895

Editor: This is Denman Waldo Ross's "Harry Donovan," a drawing from June 12, 1895, housed at the Harvard Art Museums. The sparse lines against the blue paper create a striking effect. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The blue evokes a sense of timelessness, almost like an iconographic background we often see in religious art. Notice how the lines are minimal, yet they capture a distinct likeness. What emotional resonance do you find in such simplicity? Editor: I think it conveys a feeling of vulnerability. The incomplete lines suggest an openness. Curator: Indeed. It's as if the sitter's identity is still forming, inviting the viewer to participate in completing the narrative. The face becomes a mirror, reflecting our own experiences. Editor: It's fascinating how a simple sketch can hold so much meaning. Curator: Art often functions as cultural memory. Looking at this, we can begin to ask ourselves, what remains when only the essential is depicted?