Female Figure in Profile c. 20th century

Curator: Let's discuss "Female Figure in Profile" by Elie Nadelman, housed right here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's striking! The stippled lines give the figure a real sense of movement and almost ephemeral quality. Curator: Nadelman's work often blurred the lines between sculpture and drawing, and this piece really highlights that. The technique makes me wonder about the labor involved, the sheer time spent creating that texture. Editor: I see a classical form being abstracted, perhaps reflecting a modern unease with the idealized female form in art. The lines almost vibrate with a nervous energy. Curator: The mass production of art prints democratized ownership but changed the art's status. Editor: Perhaps, but I think the image retains its symbolic power even in reproduction. The pose itself echoes ancient depictions of goddesses, but with a distinct modernist twist. It's both familiar and unsettling. Curator: Interesting to consider how it straddles craft, reproduction, and the art market. Editor: Ultimately, the figure remains compelling, a testament to the enduring power of the female image.