Study of a Young Man Reading 1926

Editor: This is Denman Waldo Ross's "Study of a Young Man Reading," created in 1926. It's a pencil sketch, rather small. I'm intrigued by how the artist seems to be mapping out the composition with all those lines. What strikes you most about it? Curator: I'm drawn to the visible process. We see the means of production laid bare: the artist's hand, the geometry guiding the form, the very materiality of the graphite on paper. It’s not just about the subject reading, but about the labor of creating the image. Editor: So, you’re seeing the value in the drawing itself? Curator: Exactly. The drawing becomes an object of study in its own right, showcasing the artist's method and the physical act of representation. It really makes us consider the value judgements placed on finished versus unfinished works. Editor: That's a great point; I'll definitely look at sketches differently now.