Sketch of Nelson 1926

Editor: This is Denman Waldo Ross’s sketch of Nelson, done in pencil. It looks like a preliminary study, perhaps for a larger work. What do you see in this piece beyond the surface? Curator: Well, I see a questioning of representation itself. Ross seems to be dissecting Nelson's face, not just depicting it. Notice the lines extending beyond the head, marked 'XM.' Could these be indicators of a system, a coded language imposed onto the subject? Editor: So, it's not just a portrait, but a commentary on how we construct identity? Curator: Precisely. And considering Ross's time, 1926, what societal narratives might he be subtly challenging through this seemingly simple sketch? Editor: I never thought about a portrait this way. It’s fascinating how much can be read into a sketch. Curator: Indeed. Art often holds more than what's immediately visible.