Portrait of André Breton 1922

Curator: Before us, we have Robert Delaunay's "Portrait of André Breton," housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It has this immediate feeling of quiet introspection. The soft graphite on the warm paper gives a sense of calm. Curator: Delaunay's choice of graphite is interesting, signaling a more direct connection to process, the hand, rather than the illusionism afforded by painting. Breton's legacy is tied to the social and cultural upheaval during and after the world wars. Editor: Absolutely. There's a weight here, despite the simplicity. The eyes, especially, seem to carry a sense of the surrealist burden, a hint of revolution simmering beneath the surface. Curator: I agree completely. The simplicity allows a deeper engagement with Breton's role as a cultural figure, even as the production reveals the artist's labor. Editor: Ultimately, I’m left pondering on how Delaunay captured something essential about Breton, a quiet storm, if you will.