Sketch of David 1918

Editor: So, this is Denman Waldo Ross's "Sketch of David," housed here at Harvard. It’s a simple pencil drawing, but the pose feels so vulnerable. What do you make of it? Curator: The fetal position, the obscured face...it speaks volumes, doesn't it? Think of the symbolic weight of David himself – from shepherd boy to king. Ross reduces him to pure, unadorned humanity. Do you see how that might challenge our expectations? Editor: Definitely! It strips away the heroic narrative. I hadn't considered the implications of that pose within the David story. Curator: The sketch makes you consider memory and vulnerability. What does the artist want the viewer to connect with? Editor: Seeing it that way really shifts my understanding of the piece. It's more than just a sketch; it's a commentary. Curator: Precisely. Art provides new perspectives on old archetypes, doesn't it?