Portrait of a Shirtless Young Man 19th-20th century

Curator: Denman Waldo Ross's oil on canvas, "Portrait of a Shirtless Young Man," presents us with an intimate, though somewhat unfinished, study. It's part of the Harvard Art Museums collection. Editor: My first impression is how the subject seems caught between visibility and dissolution, emerging from a field of indeterminate colors. Curator: Considering its context, Ross taught design theory at Harvard; this may well be an exercise in color and form more than a traditional portrait. Editor: Yes, the color is certainly striking. Note the way the blues and greens in the background interact with the flesh tones of the figure, creating a push and pull across the surface. Curator: The lack of a specific date or commission also suggests a work driven by the artist's internal exploration rather than external pressures. Perhaps a meditation on fleeting youth? Editor: Perhaps. Or perhaps the artist was merely interested in the interplay of light and shadow on the human form, its sheer materiality, and how it can be captured on canvas. Curator: It certainly leaves one with many questions about the social and artistic environment that fostered such works. Editor: Agreed. There is still much to observe in the application of paint itself.