Nile at Assouan, Egypt 1896

Curator: Denman Waldo Ross created this watercolor, Nile at Assouan, Egypt. It's held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: My first impression is a dreamlike stillness, a quiet observation of light playing on water and ancient stones. Curator: Ross’s work reflects a Gilded Age Orientalism. How do we interpret his artistic gaze upon Egypt, considering colonial power dynamics? Editor: I suppose you could view it that way, or maybe it's just a guy trying to capture the feeling of a place, an essence escaping easy political definition. Curator: But the very act of 'capturing' is imbued with power, isn't it? Who is doing the capturing, and what does that mean for the captured? It brings to mind Edward Said's theories... Editor: Maybe, but it's also possible to see a simpler beauty, a moment of quiet reflection rendered in gentle strokes. Sometimes, you know, a boat is just a boat! Curator: Still, it's essential to unpack the layers of representation. It's not just about what is depicted, but how, and why, and who benefits from that depiction. Editor: Well, I still find its quietness very powerful. It is a beautiful piece that I will remember. Curator: And hopefully it prompts deeper thought.