Head of a Man c. 20th century

Curator: Here we have Pavel Tchelitchew's "Head of a Man," currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's like a ghost of a portrait, barely there. Ethereal, almost faded memory. Curator: Indeed, the subtlety allows for a deep exploration of form. The head, a classic symbol of intellect and identity, is rendered so lightly it feels like a fleeting thought. Editor: I get a sense of vulnerability, like this man's identity is fragile, easily erased. Or maybe he's just really shy? Curator: Perhaps it speaks to the transient nature of self, how our perceptions and definitions are always in flux. Editor: Right, like we're all just works in progress, constantly being sketched and re-sketched. Curator: Precisely. It invites introspection. Editor: Well, now I’m feeling all kinds of existential. Thanks, Pavel!