M. Duranty, after Degas c. 20th century

Curator: Here we have Carl Pickhardt’s "M. Duranty, after Degas." It's a small drawing, just 7 by 5.7 centimeters, currently held in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It feels like a study in character—the sitter's gaze is intense, framed by those spectacles and that casually held cigarette. There is a worldliness to it. Curator: Absolutely. Pickhardt, born in 1908, engages with Degas' original portrait, replicating the intricate line work and capturing the subject's likeness. Editor: I'm curious about the choice to revisit Degas. Was Pickhardt drawn to Duranty's controversial role as the New York Times' Moscow correspondent, minimizing the horrors of Stalin's regime? Curator: An interesting perspective, though I'd argue Pickhardt's concern is primarily with Degas' formal mastery. Editor: Perhaps it's both. Art often serves as a mirror, reflecting and refracting complex social realities even in seemingly straightforward portraits. Curator: True. Considering the dimensions, Pickhardt's precise lines and detailed shading are remarkable. Editor: Ultimately, it invites us to consider the power of portraiture to immortalize, and potentially complicate, historical narratives. Curator: Indeed. A captivating piece that bridges artistic eras and provokes thoughtful contemplation.