Ships at Anchor 19th-20th century

Curator: Leon Joubert's "Ships at Anchor," housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It feels like a memory, a quickly jotted impression in ink, almost ephemeral. Curator: Yes, the lines are so sparse, aren't they? He captures the essence of these vessels and the surrounding harbor scene with incredible economy. It's about 48 by 64 centimeters. Editor: The composition splits the view, pulling me between the serene sailboats on the left and the heavier, more industrial forms on the right, anchored by that lighthouse. It speaks to the transition of eras, doesn't it? Curator: Perhaps. Or simply to the diverse life of a port, the different purposes these ships serve. The almost brutal strokes depicting those vessels stand in stark contrast to the light airy ones of the sailboats. Editor: Whatever Joubert intended, the tension between those styles, those worlds, gives the drawing a depth that belies its simplicity. It's a fleeting moment made permanent. Curator: A quiet sketch that speaks volumes.