Surf 19th-20th century

Editor: This watercolor piece, titled "Surf," is by Denman Waldo Ross, but the date is unknown. It feels so dreamlike. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a commentary on the representation of nature. Its delicate washes belie the power of the ocean. Consider, whose perspective are we given? Is it one of privilege, removed from the ocean's potential threat? Editor: That's a powerful point. I hadn't considered the lens through which the scene is presented. Curator: Exactly. The beauty masks a more profound dialogue about our relationship with nature and who has access to its beauty without its dangers. Editor: That really changes how I see it. It's not just a pretty picture, it's a statement. Curator: Precisely. Art allows us to question the narratives we take for granted.