Trees 

Editor: So, this is "Trees," by William Richard Lethaby. I’m struck by the artist’s use of watercolor. It feels effortless, almost like a sketch. What do you see in it? Curator: I see a focus on the materiality of the watercolor itself. The washes of color, the way they bleed and interact... Lethaby seems less concerned with creating a perfect illusion and more interested in the raw, unpretentious qualities of the medium. Editor: So it is more about the act of creating, than the image itself? Curator: Precisely. Consider also the societal perception of watercolor as a "lesser" medium, often associated with amateur art or decoration. Lethaby, by embracing it, seems to challenge these hierarchies. What do you think he is saying about labor and class? Editor: That's interesting, the act of making the artwork becomes more important than the scene depicted. Thanks! Curator: Exactly! And it makes me consider the cultural value we place on different forms of artistic labor.