Clock Tower, Grisons, Switzerland 19th-20th century

Curator: This is Denman Waldo Ross's "Clock Tower, Grisons, Switzerland," a pencil drawing on paper held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It feels ephemeral, like a fleeting memory captured with the lightest of touches. Curator: Ross, known for his theories on design, likely chose pencil to explore tonal variations. Consider the economic implications; sketching was far more accessible than painting. Editor: Right, and how the verticality of the clock tower, a symbol of time and control, dominates the modest dwellings clustered beneath, subtly hinting at social hierarchies. Curator: I'm also struck by the labor involved in creating paper at the time and how that material process elevates our understanding. Editor: I appreciate the way the artist captures the essence of the place. It makes you wonder about the people who lived under the watch of this tower. Curator: It’s a reminder that even simple sketches hold complex layers of meaning when we look at the materials and production. Editor: Indeed, a piece that invites us to consider the social fabric woven around this landmark.