Charlie Parker 1933

Editor: This is a drawing titled "Charlie Parker" by Denman Waldo Ross, created in 1939. It's a quick sketch, and I'm curious about what stories you see in the lines and shading of this portrait. Curator: The artist is clearly capturing a fleeting moment. Note how the geometric structure underneath blends with the subject's organic form. It evokes the enduring power of art to capture not just likeness, but also the essence of a person. What do you think such a preliminary sketch reveals? Editor: Perhaps the artist's process, how he saw the world and translated it onto paper. Curator: Exactly. The notations indicate the artist's process and his engagement with the act of seeing and recording; the cultural memory embedded in portraiture. Editor: Fascinating; this has given me a completely new perspective.