Portrait of K. 1931

Curator: This is Denman Waldo Ross's "Portrait of K.," a painting in the Harvard Art Museums' collection. I’m immediately struck by the sitter's gaze and the vibrant colors. What do you make of it? Editor: Well, the composition is quite direct, isn't it? The juxtaposition of the pink tones in the face against that viridian background definitely creates a striking visual tension. Curator: Ross was deeply involved in color theory. Looking at this now, I wonder about the "K" in the title, who this person was, and what their relationship to Ross might reveal about the queer aesthetics of the time. Editor: Perhaps, but the painting itself presents a fascinating study in the application of complementary colors and the subtle modelling of form through tonal variation, wouldn't you say? Curator: Absolutely, and considering the social restrictions of the era, these formal choices could very well reflect a coded exploration of identity. Editor: A compelling perspective—it shows that even seemingly straightforward portraiture can contain complex layers of meaning. Curator: Exactly, it's a testament to the power of art to reflect and refract the complexities of social experience.