Mary Harvey, Old Deerfield, Massachusetts, 1785 1963

Editor: So, this is Ann Parker’s “Mary Harvey, Old Deerfield, Massachusetts, 1785,” housed here at Harvard. It gives off a somber feel, almost like an epitaph. What are your initial thoughts, looking at its composition and use of space? Curator: The most striking formal element is the stark contrast between the heavily inked figure and the surrounding void. The composition directs our gaze to the texture and form first. Editor: Texture and form? How so? Curator: Consider the graphic nature of the lines, the way they delineate form with such brutal directness. The figure is, in effect, trapped by this formal tension. The artist seems preoccupied with the inherent properties of the medium itself. Editor: It's a far cry from representational, isn't it? I mean, it is a clear visual statement. Thanks, this helps me understand its visual message much better. Curator: Indeed, focusing on the structural elements reveals the work's deeper meaning. A worthwhile investigation, I'd say.