Draped Figure, Headless 19th-20th century

Editor: This is Gaston Lachaise's *Draped Figure, Headless*, currently at the Harvard Art Museums. The lack of a head is a little unsettling. What do you see in this fragment? Curator: The headless figure speaks volumes! Throughout history, the removal of a head often signifies subjugation, or a loss of power. What meaning can be derived from such an absence? Editor: So, it's not just an aesthetic choice? Curator: Not entirely. Consider the drapery – how it clings, concealing and revealing simultaneously. Does it offer protection, or does it bind? What does this contrast suggest to you? Editor: I guess there's more to this piece than first meets the eye! Curator: Indeed. The image resonates with layered meanings, echoing across time and experience.