William Morse Cole (1866-1960) 1934

Editor: This is Charles Sydney Hopkinson’s portrait of William Morse Cole, held at the Harvard Art Museums. There’s such a stillness to the image, a formality. What draws your eye in this work? Curator: The eyeglasses hanging from his lapel and held in his hands are telling. They are symbols of intellect and perspective. His gaze directed away suggests introspection. Does this resonate with you? Editor: Absolutely! It feels like a captured moment of contemplation. Curator: Indeed. The soft color palette and subdued background enhance this sense of quiet reflection. It reminds us that portraits can capture not just likeness, but inner life. Editor: I hadn’t considered the color choice contributing to the mood so deliberately. Thank you.