Man Seated at a Table 1956

Curator: Jonathan Shahn sketched this "Man Seated at a Table" in 1966. It's part of the Harvard Art Museums collection and rendered in stark pen lines. Editor: He seems utterly alone, doesn’t he? Lost in thought behind those glasses. The wiry lines add to the sense of his detachment. Curator: Shahn’s work often explored themes of isolation and the individual within society, reflective of the anxieties present during the mid-20th century. Editor: Those raw, exposed lines on the page... It almost feels like a psychological study, peering into the subject's internal world rather than just depicting his external appearance. Curator: Indeed. Shahn’s artistic lineage – being the son of Ben Shahn – exposed him early on to art with a social conscience and the power of the image. Editor: I’d wager this was a quick sketch of someone at a cafe. I feel a real connection to that feeling of watching the world, alone with your coffee. Curator: Well, I think we have both found elements to appreciate in this intriguing sketch. Editor: Absolutely, there’s something beautifully human about it.