Portrait of a Young Man 19th-20th century

Editor: Here we have Denman Waldo Ross’s oil on canvas, "Portrait of a Young Man." There's a rawness to it, almost unfinished. How do you read the materiality of this piece? Curator: Well, the visible brushstrokes and lack of blended surfaces are key. Consider the price point of oil paints then versus now. Was this a conscious choice to expose the labor, the act of making, or an economic constraint dictating the level of finish? Editor: That’s fascinating. So, you are thinking about the social context of the painting? Curator: Precisely! Also, consider where Ross acquired his canvas, his brushes, and how the availability of such materials might shape his artistic choices. The economics of art production always influence the final product. Editor: I hadn’t considered the economic factors so directly. Thanks! Curator: Of course! It’s all connected: the materials, the process, and the social reality.