Landscape with Two Figures 1898

Editor: Here we have Denman Waldo Ross's 'Landscape with Two Figures,' a small oil painting. The brushstrokes are loose, almost impressionistic. What’s striking to me is the visible texture of the paint itself. How would you interpret this work? Curator: Well, considering Ross's engagement with design reform, I see an emphasis on materiality and process. The visible brushstrokes highlight the artist's labor, and the limited palette suggests a deliberate focus on the properties of the pigments themselves. The means of production are central to its interpretation. Editor: That's fascinating! I hadn't considered the connection between the visible process and the design reform movement. It certainly shifts my understanding of the landscape. Curator: Indeed. By examining the materials and the way they're applied, we can challenge traditional notions of what constitutes 'high art' and consider the value of craft and materiality.