Edgartown Landscape 19th-20th century

Editor: This is "Edgartown Landscape" by Denman Waldo Ross, part of the Harvard Art Museums collection. It's a small oil painting, and the colours are so muted, almost dreamlike. What strikes you about this piece? Curator: I'm interested in how Ross, as a prominent art theorist, used his own work to explore his ideas. Do you think this piece reflects broader artistic trends of his time? Editor: Perhaps impressionism? The brushstrokes are very loose. Curator: Exactly. And consider the public role of landscape painting at the turn of the century—a celebration of place, but also a projection of cultural values onto the land. How does Edgartown fit into that narrative, do you think? Editor: I see how it idealizes a peaceful scene. Curator: It's fascinating to consider how Ross’s theories impacted not only his art but also the wider art world's understanding of aesthetics. This work encourages us to examine the intersection of artistic theory and societal values. Editor: Definitely gives you a new perspective. Thanks!