Highland Light 19th-20th century

Curator: This is Denman Waldo Ross’s "Highland Light," held at the Harvard Art Museums, a watercolor measuring about 9 by 13 inches. Editor: My first impression is the textured use of color, how the brown of the bluff contrasts with the blue of the ocean, and then that white band of sand. Curator: Ross, known for his theories on color and design, seemed fascinated by landscapes, often using watercolors. What’s interesting is how he uses this medium, traditionally associated with amateur art, to create a scene that's very modern. Editor: The lighthouse itself is almost absent, overshadowed by the natural landscape. It speaks to the growing awareness of environmentalism at the time. How the landscape shapes identity and vice versa. Curator: Indeed, a fascinating example of how artistic expression can intersect with emerging cultural and social ideas, and in an unexpected medium. Editor: A testament to how a seemingly simple landscape can reveal a wealth of historical and material insight.