Male Head Sketch 19th-20th century

Editor: Here we have Denman Waldo Ross's "Male Head Sketch." It's a quick pencil drawing, and something about the subject's expression feels… uncertain. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Ross’s sketch embodies a moment of reflection on masculinity. What narratives were available to men in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when it's presumed he made this? Was the figure grappling with societal expectations, or perhaps seeking a more fluid understanding of self? Editor: That's interesting. I hadn't considered how the drawing might relate to the subject's internal world. Curator: It’s a glimpse into the construction of identity, isn’t it? What dialogues about self-perception can we, even now, begin because of this work? Editor: I see it now. It’s more than just a sketch; it is a question. Thanks!