Figure Studies c. 19th century

Curator: George Frederic Watts’ “Figure Studies” at the Harvard Art Museums presents a collection of sketches on paper, measuring about 36 by 25 centimeters. What captures you most in this piece? Editor: There's a restless energy. It feels like a sculptor trying to capture fleeting movement, searching for the perfect pose. The drape studies are particularly beautiful. Curator: Indeed. Watts was deeply engaged with classical ideals, and these studies likely reflect his process of understanding the human form through drapery and anatomy. It speaks to the labor inherent in academic training. Editor: Exactly. It's a peek into the workshop, the artist grappling with form and composition. It makes the final, polished works all the more compelling. Curator: Studying the process makes you appreciate the final product that much more. Editor: Agreed. It's the journey that gives the destination its meaning.