Two Nude Males; Nude Male with Helmet c. 1862 - 1875

Curator: This is William Rimmer’s sketch "Two Nude Males; Nude Male with Helmet," housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. I’m immediately struck by the raw energy in it. Editor: It feels unfinished, somehow, like a thought captured mid-flight. I'm drawn to the use of graphite—a readily available material that democratizes artistic expression. Curator: Rimmer, born in 1816, often focused on anatomical studies, and this piece seems to be a study of musculature and posture. The helmet suggests a classical, possibly even militaristic, theme. Editor: Perhaps, but there's also something vulnerable about these figures, exposed on the page. The helmet doesn’t necessarily denote power; it could be a burden, a constraint. Curator: True. The sketch is a testament to Rimmer’s exploration of the human form, a foundation for his later sculptures and paintings. Editor: Yes, and the material fragility of the paper contrasts intriguingly with the strength of the bodies depicted. It's like a fleeting dream made concrete. Curator: An interesting way to put it. Rimmer's work really invites us to consider how process informs our perception of the final form. Editor: Exactly. I find myself pondering the performative aspect of art-making and the narratives embedded within sketches.