Seated Woman; verso: Sketches of Human Heads and Animals 19th-20th century

Curator: Looking at William Valentine Schevill's sketch, "Seated Woman," the first thing that strikes me is its quiet elegance. The use of line is so delicate. Editor: Indeed, the simplicity is key. The cross-hatching defines form with remarkable efficiency, creating a contemplative mood, almost mournful. Curator: The woman, seated in profile, becomes an archetype of patience. The sketches on the reverse—heads and animals—suggest this image captures a transient moment, a fleeting thought. Editor: The composition directs our gaze, doesn't it? From the detailed bodice to the fluid skirt, and finally, to those enigmatic marks in the upper right corner. Are those structural details? Curator: Perhaps. Or maybe they're merely psychological scribbles, unconscious expressions of a world beyond the sitter's gaze. Editor: It’s a visual study in contrasts, I think: defined versus implied, dark versus light, certainty versus ambiguity. Curator: An intimate glimpse into the artist’s process. Editor: And a tender observation of a woman waiting.