A Human Skeleton 

Editor: Here we have an ink drawing by James Ward, simply titled "A Human Skeleton." The bones are scattered rather casually, it’s somewhat unnerving and quite striking. What stands out to you when you look at this drawing? Curator: The work is compelling because of its intense focus on structure. Note the artist’s manipulation of line; it's used both to define the form of the skeleton and to create shadow, thereby constructing depth within a relatively limited palette. Are you struck by the overall composition and arrangement? Editor: I see what you mean about the lines creating shadows, but isn't it a bit... morbid? Curator: Morbidity may be an initial reading, but I urge you to look at the work's formal properties first. Consider the articulation of each bone: observe how Ward has rendered them not as decaying remains, but almost as architectural forms with their own weight and balance within the composition. Editor: That's an interesting way to put it - like an architectural study! I hadn’t really noticed that before. The overlapping does create depth and even some movement. Curator: Precisely! The interplay between the individual structural elements, or the bones, create this striking visual effect. Ward seems less interested in mortality than he is in form. Editor: I suppose I came in with certain expectations about a skeleton. Seeing it from a structural perspective definitely shifts the emotional weight of the piece. Thanks for helping me see that. Curator: My pleasure. It is rewarding when rigorous examination uncovers fresh insight, wouldn't you agree?