Henry Lee (1817-1898) 1902

Editor: This is Bela Lyon Pratt's portrait bust of Henry Lee, created sometime between 1867 and 1917, at the Harvard Art Museums. The starkness of the monochrome draws me in. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The formal elements are quite striking. Consider the texture – the rough, unfinished quality of the stone contrasts with the smooth planes of the face. Do you observe how light interacts with these varying surfaces? Editor: I see that the light highlights the face, especially around the eyes and cheekbones. The coat appears flat, almost like a backdrop to emphasize the head. Curator: Precisely. The sculptor directs our gaze through manipulating light and shadow, using the sharp contrast to define form. It is a carefully orchestrated visual experience, wouldn't you agree? Editor: Definitely! Thinking about the interplay of texture and light changes how I see it. Thanks for pointing that out!