Landscape with Church 19th-20th century

Curator: This is Denman Waldo Ross's watercolor, "Landscape with Church," held here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It feels like a half-remembered dream, doesn't it? A fleeting impression captured in washes of color. Curator: Indeed. The composition is built on a series of horizontal layers, punctuated by the verticality of the campanile. Note the restricted palette, dominated by earth tones. It seems the artist aims to create a sense of atmospheric unity. Editor: The figures along the waterfront, almost dissolving into the architecture, evoke a feeling of transience, or maybe simply people on vacation. Curator: The loose brushwork and limited detail contribute to the overall effect of the painting. The artist seems more concerned with conveying a mood than representing reality. Editor: It’s the kind of scene you might miss if you blinked, but Ross has held onto it just long enough. Curator: Precisely. A brief study in tone and form. Editor: It’s funny how a few dabs of color can conjure up a whole world.