Charlie Parker 1931

Curator: This is Denman Waldo Ross's pencil drawing "Charlie Parker," from 1931, part of the collection here at Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It feels like an early study, doesn't it? The pencil lines are so light, almost tentative, focusing on the raw materials of the paper and graphite. Curator: Ross was deeply involved in the Arts and Crafts movement; he believed in democratizing art by emphasizing design principles accessible to everyone. Editor: The visible construction lines tell us something about process. What kind of labor went into this drawing, and for whom? Curator: Ross used his artistic platforms to promote ideas about social harmony through aesthetics. This drawing likely served as a preparatory sketch for a larger project. Editor: So, even this sketch contains the seeds of his larger social project? It's interesting to think about how the materials and method themselves become political. Curator: Exactly. For Ross, art was a means to shape society's values. Editor: It adds depth to what could be seen as a simple portrait. Curator: A quiet piece but full of intention. Editor: Deliberate even in its simplicity.