Seated Man c. 1876 - 1878

Curator: Here we have "Seated Man" by Charles Herbert Moore. This watercolor work is part of the Harvard Art Museums collection. What's your immediate take on this piece? Editor: There's a quiet dignity to it. The rendering of fabrics suggests a deep understanding of the materiality of clothes, how they drape and wear. Curator: Moore was painting during a period of industrial change, the burgeoning factory system. Do you think this informs our reading of this man's attire? Editor: Absolutely. The carefully rendered textures suggest a value placed on the handmade, perhaps a quiet protest against mass production. He is well dressed, and appears to be a worker. Curator: It is interesting how Moore uses watercolor to focus on form and structure, without idealizing the figure. Editor: Agreed. The technique, though simple, lends a timeless quality. It invites reflection on the lives and labor of ordinary people. Curator: A humble portrayal, indeed. Editor: Precisely, and all the more compelling for it.