Male Head 19th-20th century

Editor: Here we see "Male Head" by Denman Waldo Ross, a pencil sketch. It feels so preliminary and open. What strikes you about it? Curator: The sketch's incompleteness is compelling. It feels like a ghost of an idea. I wonder, what narratives are suppressed within these incomplete lines? Editor: Suppressed? Curator: Think about the male gaze, the power dynamics embedded in portraiture. By not fully realizing the image, Ross potentially subverts that authority. What do you think? Editor: That's a new perspective. I was focused on the skill, but I see the potential for a statement now. Curator: Exactly! It’s about considering what the artist chooses to show and, crucially, what they choose *not* to show. Editor: It changes everything. Thanks!