Trial Strokes c. 19th century

Curator: This small drawing, entitled "Trial Strokes," is by Washington Allston, who lived from 1779 to 1843. It's currently part of the collection at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It feels almost like a ghost, doesn't it? The barely-there lines create an ethereal quality, a whisper of a form trying to emerge from the paper. Curator: I see it as Allston working through ideas, seeking the essence of a form. He was deeply interested in capturing emotional and psychological states through visual means, often drawing from historical and literary subjects. Editor: The hatching and cross-hatching, the way he builds up tone with these delicate strokes… it's all about the process. It's more about the becoming than the being. Curator: Indeed. The fragmented nature allows the viewer to participate, to fill in the gaps and connect with the underlying symbolic potential. The very act of creation is laid bare. Editor: It's a quiet piece, yet it speaks volumes about the artist's mind at work. I see a delicate balance between intention and accident. Curator: An intimate glimpse into Allston's creative process, revealing the power of suggestion and the enduring resonance of incomplete forms.