Seated Male Nude with Hands behind Head 1923

Editor: This drawing, titled "Seated Male Nude with Hands behind Head," is by Denman Waldo Ross. The work on paper shows a nude figure, but it's surrounded by geometric shapes. What do you make of it? Curator: The geometric scaffolding is critical. It speaks to the historical context of academic figure drawing but also raises questions about control and confinement. How might the subject’s pose, seemingly relaxed, clash with the rigid structure surrounding him? Is it a commentary on societal expectations of masculinity? Editor: I hadn’t thought of it that way. So the figure's pose isn't just about classical art; it's also about challenging it? Curator: Precisely. Consider, too, who is typically represented in art and who isn’t. This work allows us to consider the representation of bodies and the social power at play. Editor: That's a powerful point. I’ll never look at a nude drawing the same way again.