Male Nude Seated on a Stool 19th-20th century

Curator: This is Denman Waldo Ross’s “Male Nude Seated on a Stool,” residing here at the Harvard Art Museums. I’m immediately drawn to the figure’s somber mood. Editor: The blue paper certainly contributes to that mood; it speaks to the economics of artistic practice—a readily available ground, perhaps leftover from other projects. Curator: Indeed, and the economy of line is similarly striking. Note the artist’s careful modulation, creating volume and depth. Editor: I am curious about that stool. It’s a simple object, yet integral. Was it produced for the artist specifically? And by whom? Curator: The stool, like the figure, serves as a structural element. Both are essential to the overall composition. Editor: I see it also as an object born of labor, not unlike the model, contracted for the purposes of artmaking. Curator: A valid point. It is fascinating how a seemingly simple sketch can reveal so much through its form. Editor: Agreed. Examining the means and methods really enhances the experience.