Theodore R. Sizer (b. 1932) 1972

Curator: This is Deane Keller's portrait of Theodore R. Sizer, held here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's quite formal, almost like a corporate headshot, but with a touch of humanity in the subject's eyes, don't you think? Curator: Indeed. The material choices, the oil paint on canvas, situate it within a long tradition of academic portraiture. The dimensions speak to its intended placement, perhaps in a hall or office. Editor: Absolutely, it suggests power and institutional weight. But there's also something about the slightly muted tones and the books on the desk that speaks to the quiet dedication of scholarship. It makes me wonder about the kind of labor that goes unnoticed, supporting figures like Sizer. Curator: Precisely. The production of knowledge, and its representation, is rarely a solitary act. Editor: A thoughtful reminder to look beyond the surface, always. Curator: Indeed, a point well made.