White Mountains from Poland Springs Possibly 1917

Curator: Let's turn our attention to Childe Hassam's watercolor, "White Mountains from Poland Springs," a landscape vista in the collection of the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's so delicate. The way the washes blend creates an atmosphere of serene distance, almost ethereal. Curator: Indeed. Note how Hassam modulates the blues and greens to establish depth and perspective, using the paper's texture to great effect. The materiality is evident in every stroke. Editor: The very choice of watercolor signals a transient moment, a quick capture of light and atmosphere. Hassam's decision to depict the mountains from the vantage point of Poland Springs also contextualizes this work within the popular resort culture. Curator: Precisely! The composition also speaks volumes. The placement of the mountain range, balanced by the foreground field and trees, structures our gaze. Editor: A beautiful testament to observation and skill. Curator: Absolutely, a lovely reminder that even landscapes are shaped by our perception. Editor: The landscape, also shaped by hands.