Study of Fridolf 1897

Curator: The Harvard Art Museums hold this delicate graphite drawing, "Study of Fridolf," by Denman Waldo Ross. The artwork measures roughly 45 by 30 centimeters. Editor: There's a tenderness to this sketch; the softness of the graphite lends a vulnerable quality to the boy's face. Curator: It’s interesting to consider the social context of portraiture at the time. Ross's choice of such a simple medium speaks to perhaps a less formal commission, a personal study rather than a display of wealth. Editor: Absolutely. And the almost ethereal quality could represent childhood innocence, a theme commonly explored through art. However, it may also reflect the rigid societal expectations placed upon young boys. Curator: The medium becomes the message, doesn't it? Pencil allows for subtle modulations, a softness unattainable with, say, oil paint. Editor: In the end, it's a poignant reminder of the complexities of representation, both personal and societal. Curator: It certainly is. Considering process and product, this piece leaves us with lingering questions about identity and representation.