James Walker (1794-1874) 1880

Curator: Anne Whitney's sculpture of James Walker is a striking portrait. The dimensions are roughly 62.5 x 34 x 31 cm. What do you make of it? Editor: There's a kind of austere elegance. His slightly downturned gaze and pursed lips seem to signal a reserved personality. Curator: Walker was a Unitarian minister and president of Harvard. I see in this sculpture the visual language of power, but tempered by a very specific intellectual tradition. Editor: Symbols of intellect are apparent in the subject's gaze; the way the light catches his brow suggests deep thought and introspection. Curator: Absolutely. Understanding the social context is vital here. A powerful man, yet presented with a certain restraint. Editor: The way symbols of power intersect with personal reflection certainly complicates any singular interpretation. Curator: Indeed, the tension makes it all the more compelling.