Portrait of a Red-Haired Child 19th-20th century

Curator: Denman Waldo Ross's small oil painting, *Portrait of a Red-Haired Child*, certainly captures one's attention. Editor: The chromatic relationship between the child's hair and the muted green background is immediately striking. It lends a slightly unsettling, almost ghostly aura to the image. Curator: I think that ghostly aura speaks to the historical context, doesn't it? Consider the era in which Ross was working and the historical role of children who are often objectified and idealized, stripped of their agency. Editor: Yes, and yet the flattening effect of the composition draws attention to the surface, to the materiality. Curator: The gaze is almost haunting, perhaps a confrontation with the artist and the viewers, about the place of children within the social fabric. Editor: It’s true; the unsettling gaze complicates my initial impression. Curator: Right. This work shows how understanding art history can inform contemporary discussions. Editor: And close looking reveals the formal qualities that enhance our interpretation.