Santa Maria Maggiore, Venice 19th-20th century

Editor: This watercolor sketch is titled "Santa Maria Maggiore, Venice" by Denman Waldo Ross. It seems like a simple depiction of architecture, but the washes of color make it feel quite luminous. What stands out to you in this work? Curator: I see an exploration of material interactions. The fluidity of watercolor allowed Ross to capture the reflections and the dampness inherent to Venice. Note how the building almost dissolves back into the earth from which its materials came. Editor: So, it's not just about the pretty scene but how the water reflects the building materials back to nature? Curator: Precisely. Ross is showing us the cyclical relationship between labor, building materials, and the inevitable return to their source. Editor: I never would have considered that! It makes me think about the work of creation and eventual decay.