Henry James (1843-1916) 19th-20th century

Curator: Here we see Francis Derwent Wood's bronze bust of Henry James, housed right here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: He looks like he's seen it all, doesn't he? A kind of world-weary wisdom radiates from the piece. Curator: Bronze as a material, of course, has been associated with strength and endurance since antiquity – a traditional choice for commemorating a figure like James. Editor: The weight of reputation, literally! But there's also something vulnerable about how the sculpture is cut off. Like a fragment of a larger truth, a puzzle. Curator: Yes, and the unfinished quality of the bust could suggest James' own complex, open-ended narratives. Editor: A great face, though, so full of character, a perfect choice of subject. Curator: Indeed. Wood captures the essence of James perfectly. A cultural icon, here rendered in bronze. Editor: It's a striking image, really lingers in the mind.