Sketchbook ("1893"): Italy 1892 - 1893

Curator: This is Denman Waldo Ross's sketchbook, dating back to 1893, likely created in Italy. It's currently held in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: The cover gives a muted, almost solemn impression with that aged cloth and the slightly gothic "ALBUM" typeface. It speaks of history, but also of the tangible, handmade object. Curator: Absolutely. The “album” inscription itself is fascinating, implying a collection of memories, experiences, perhaps even a curated self. What symbols and stories do you imagine are hidden within? Editor: I'm more struck by the linen cover and the evidence of wear. This wasn't meant to be precious, but functional. I wonder about the paper, the binding; how these materials shaped Ross's creative process. Curator: Perhaps the simple materials encouraged experimentation, a freedom from the pressure of grand artistic gestures. Editor: Precisely. It grounds artmaking in the everyday. It is just stuff, but stuff that can inspire. Curator: A lovely point. I find myself drawn to the tension between the formal inscription and the humble materials. Editor: It's a reminder that even the most personal visions are shaped by the material world. I'm curious to see what lies inside.