Sketches of Parts of the Human Body 19th-20th century

Curator: This is William Valentine Schevill's "Sketches of Parts of the Human Body," part of the collection at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: I'm immediately struck by the vulnerability, like a secret page torn from a sketchbook. The artist has been unburdening himself by drawing an arm, a face. Curator: The arm is rendered with such precision, yet the lack of background brings a sense of incompleteness. The hand's gesture is provocative, almost confrontational. Editor: Absolutely. The pointed finger is a classical motif, used in iconography to instruct, to command, or even accuse. It's a primal symbol of power and direction. Curator: The unfinished quality also hints at the transient nature of observation, the artist capturing fleeting moments of form and expression. Editor: Yes, but it feels more intentional than accidental. Schevill understood the power of suggestion, the way fragments can resonate more deeply than complete narratives. It's about memory, perhaps a personal meditation on mortality. Curator: A poignant reminder that beauty often lies in the unfinished, in the glimpses we catch, and the stories we imagine. Editor: It is a work that stays with you. The kind of drawing that gets into your own bones, in a way.