Paul Christoph Mangelsdorf (1899-1989) 1946

Curator: This is Blanche Ames Ames's portrait of Paul Christoph Mangelsdorf, housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It has a very academic and thoughtful quality, almost stoic. I’m drawn to the cool palette and the subdued textures. Curator: Absolutely. Ames, known for her contributions to the suffrage movement, portrays Mangelsdorf, a renowned botanist, with a symbolic ear of corn, signifying his vital work in maize genetics. Editor: The corn adds a fascinating element. It seems to be a deliberate inclusion, contrasting with the more conventional portraiture. The formal composition is disrupted by this emblem of agriculture. Curator: Indeed. The composition serves a public function, celebrating scientific achievement, while referencing his life's work and the cultural significance of corn within a historical framework. Editor: The portrait cleverly uses both subtle color and deliberate composition to convey a sense of dignity, connecting Mangelsdorf's intellectual rigor with the vital role of agriculture in our society. I feel like I better understand a person and a life through this work.