Lucerne c. 1900 - 1915

Curator: Immediately, the first thing I notice is how this scene has been captured in a state of momentary suspension, like a dream on paper. The blending of colours, the shapes that form figures... it evokes the passage of time, and how it transforms memory. Editor: It does have that shimmering, dreamlike quality. We are looking at "Lucerne" by James Montgomery Flagg, a watercolor drawing likely created between 1900 and 1915. The medium contributes greatly to the feel of a fleeting moment captured en plein air. But let's think about Flagg at this time; he was working as an illustrator in a period when there was a growing tension between art for the masses and a movement towards fine art. Curator: The blending of colours definitely creates that impression of movement you speak of, of everyday moments lived in urban spaces, not rendered in the crisp manner we’re accustomed to. I think it brings to mind the transience of lived experience, an aspect often heightened within genre paintings as this work is concerned with daily life. Editor: Yes, precisely. The seemingly effortless quality achieved with the watercolour allows him to convey the immediacy of the setting. I would say his interest in capturing the casual elegance of turn-of-the-century life can certainly be felt, echoing a focus that was prevalent in popular visual culture, especially as urbanization continued to dominate and modernize society. I suppose the symbolism here relies more on a feeling than any definitive iconography. Curator: Agreed. It feels very evocative rather than instructive. The eye wanders as though through one's own recollections; this city isn’t made of stone and brick but of light and breath. Considering the cultural context of Switzerland with neutrality being woven into its history, the flags that can be seen towards the back only remind us more of the importance of urbanism, cultural diversity, and how identities coalesce, separate, and come together through images. Editor: Interesting perspective! It really makes you consider the various public functions of art at the time. And that interplay of identity, place, and history adds further layers to this quiet cityscape. Curator: I see how this seemingly simple watercolor reveals such intricate narratives about its period, a truly captivating piece! Editor: Indeed, a seemingly uncomplicated window into another era, with so much depth below the surface.