Francis James Child (1825-1896) 19th-20th century

Curator: Leila Usher’s terracotta roundel, “Francis James Child (1825-1896)”, at the Harvard Art Museums, feels like a whisper from the past. Editor: Intimate is the word that springs to mind; the profile, rendered in earthy tones, has a quiet dignity. Curator: Child, known for his work on ballads, almost seems to be listening intently. Usher's handling of the clay gives a sense of both strength and vulnerability to his features. Editor: Absolutely, there's a tension in the piece—the rigid circular format versus the subject's soft, almost dreamy expression. It suggests the weight of tradition tempered by individual thought. Curator: I wonder if Usher aimed to encapsulate the essence of a scholar who delved into folklore, unearthing stories that still resonate. Editor: Ultimately, the power of this work lies in how Usher marries form and feeling, inviting us into a moment of contemplative reflection.