Alvin Harvey Hansen (1887-1975) 1953

Editor: Here we have Paul Goadby Stone's portrait of Alvin Harvey Hansen. I'm really struck by the monochrome palette and the somewhat rough texture of the paint. What do you make of it? Curator: It's interesting to consider the artist's choice of materials, isn't it? The stark palette and visible brushstrokes seem to reject the slickness often associated with commissioned portraits. Perhaps this was about representing Hansen as a worker, rather than just a figure of authority? How might this influence our understanding of his contributions? Editor: That’s a really interesting point. It makes me think about the context in which this was created. Curator: Exactly. It makes you wonder about the artist's intention and how the materiality of the artwork informs our understanding of Hansen’s role.