Seated Male Nude 19th-20th century

Curator: This is Denman Waldo Ross’s drawing, "Seated Male Nude," currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It feels so immediate, doesn't it? The sketchiness lends an intimacy, almost voyeuristic. Curator: Nudity in art has long been a loaded symbol, signifying everything from vulnerability to idealization, and often power dynamics. What does it mean to see this male figure rendered so frankly? Editor: I see a kind of Apollonian beauty hinted at, yet tempered by the raw sketch style. The pose, too, evokes classical sculpture, but with a modern casualness. Curator: Absolutely. The tradition of representing the male nude links back to classical ideals, however, it's been read and re-read through different societal lenses, often embodying and reinforcing gender norms. Editor: It leaves me contemplating the ongoing dialogue around representation and the body. Thanks, Denman Waldo Ross, for provoking this discussion!