Male Nude, Left Hand to Chest 19th-20th century

Curator: Before us is a study by Denman Waldo Ross titled "Male Nude, Left Hand to Chest," currently housed at the Harvard Art Museums. It looks like pencil on paper. Editor: It feels like a study, almost anatomical in its precision. There is an undercurrent of classical sculpture but in a modern, more relaxed pose. Curator: Ross had a deep interest in systems of design. You can see the construction lines, the armature upon which the figure is built. This reveals the making process. Editor: I wonder about the model. What was his experience being observed, being rendered into art? His gaze is direct, but his posture is not one of power, but perhaps...resignation? Curator: I find the labor and the method fascinating. Here, Ross lays bare the foundations of his aesthetic practice, which is something to consider. Editor: Yes, but art also exists in context. It's impossible to ignore the male gaze inherent in nude studies. Curator: These construction lines illustrate the mechanics of how the artwork came into being. Editor: Perhaps this piece can invite a dialogue. What do we, as viewers, bring to the work? What is highlighted or erased from our view? Curator: A great point to consider. Let's move on.