Landscape, Assouan, Egypt 19th-20th century

Editor: This watercolor is "Landscape, Assouan, Egypt" by Denman Waldo Ross. The scene feels serene, almost dreamlike. What can you tell me about it? Curator: This work invites us to consider the legacy of Orientalism. How might Ross, as a Western artist, have shaped his perception of Egypt through a colonial lens? Editor: So, the beauty I see is filtered? Curator: Precisely. Think about who is represented and who is not. What narratives are amplified, and which are silenced? Editor: It’s made me rethink my initial response. Curator: It's about questioning our own gaze and understanding art's role in shaping cultural perceptions.