Walter Nelson 19th-20th century

Editor: This is Denman Waldo Ross’s portrait of Walter Nelson. It’s a striking oil painting with a really informal feel, even unfinished maybe. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see an interesting dialogue between the artistic conventions of portraiture and the burgeoning modernist interest in surface and process. How does this depiction of Walter Nelson challenge or conform to contemporary notions of portraiture and social status? Editor: I hadn’t considered the social aspect. I was focused on the brushwork and the light. Curator: Ross was consciously navigating a space between representing an individual and exploring the materiality of paint. It’s a tension that speaks to the shifts in art's role in society. Editor: I appreciate that context; it adds another layer to how I view the painting. Thanks! Curator: Indeed, looking at art as a social and cultural artifact can give us insight.