Male Nude Hanging from a Strap 19th-20th century

Curator: This is Denman Waldo Ross’s sketch, "Male Nude Hanging from a Strap," held here at the Harvard Art Museums. It's a pencil drawing, measuring about 11 by 8 1/2 inches. Editor: The figure appears suspended, vulnerable, yet there's also an undeniable athleticism in the pose, a kind of defiance of gravity. Curator: Absolutely. The image resonates with the historical context of the male nude, particularly in relation to power, vulnerability, and homoeroticism within art history. How does it sit within that narrative, given its evident lack of idealization? Editor: The strap suggests bondage, a willing submission. This symbol has a long cultural history, often tied to themes of sacrifice or discipline, but it's complicated by the ambiguity in the figure's expression. Is it pain or pleasure? Curator: And we must consider that the artist might be exploring the intersections of these themes through the lens of contemporary power structures. Editor: Indeed. It's this tension, the visual push-and-pull of conflicting ideas, that keeps this drawing so compelling.