Garden 1891

Editor: This is "Garden" by Denman Waldo Ross. It looks like it's made with watercolor. What do you see in this piece, especially considering the way it's painted? Curator: The materiality is key. Notice the thin washes, the paper support, and how the pigment sits on the surface. The quick application speaks to a specific mode of production, one of efficiency, perhaps even mass production or a study for a larger work. Editor: Mass production of garden scenes? I hadn't considered that. Curator: Think of the rise of leisure, pre-fabricated materials, and the availability of art supplies at the time. How does that alter our perception of something seemingly pastoral and handmade? Editor: It adds a whole layer of social context that I would have missed. Thanks! Curator: Precisely. Now, contemplate the commodification of leisure itself as reflected through the materials used!