York Harbor, Maine 19th-20th century

Curator: Denman Waldo Ross painted this watercolor, "York Harbor, Maine," and it’s currently held here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's luminous! The colors blend so effortlessly; it almost feels like a fleeting memory of a summer day. Curator: Indeed. Ross’s mastery lies in his ability to evoke atmosphere with such economy of means. Notice how the composition is structured around horizontal bands. Editor: Yes, the layering effect pulls you into the scene and yet it remains so simple, and light. It’s as if Ross captured not just a place, but a feeling. Curator: Precisely, that’s why his abstract color theories are so compelling. He seeks harmony through considered balance of color. Editor: I think I’m ready for a sea breeze and the feel of sunshine. It’s amazing how a little watercolor can spark that kind of longing.