Portrait of Arthur B. 1933

Editor: Here we have Denman Waldo Ross's "Portrait of Arthur B." created in 1933. It's a simple graphite drawing on paper, and I’m struck by the visible construction lines. What do you make of the artist leaving those in? Curator: The presence of those lines directs our attention to the labor of creation. Ross isn’t hiding the process; instead, he's showing us the very means of production. How does this affect your understanding of the portrait? Editor: It makes me think about the artist's intention, how much control they exert over their materials, and what they choose to reveal. Curator: Precisely! The materiality of the graphite and paper, combined with the exposed process, challenges traditional notions of artistic skill. Editor: So, it's not just about the final image, but the entire act of making? I hadn't thought of it that way. Curator: Exactly. It's a shift from admiring the finished product to appreciating the artist's interaction with the raw materials. Editor: That adds a whole new dimension to the work.