Rouen 

Editor: Here we have James Holland's "Rouen," a watercolor from the Tate collection. It feels like a fleeting moment captured, almost a sketch. What do you see here, particularly in how the materials contribute to the overall effect? Curator: The sketch-like quality directs our attention to the process itself. The rapid application of watercolor on paper underscores the artist's interaction with the site. It compels us to consider Holland's labor, his quick rendering suggesting the pace of commercial life as a subject. The brown paper support, unusually exposed, brings our attention to the materiality of the art itself, demystifying it. Editor: That's fascinating. So, you're suggesting the very act of creating this piece is as important as the scene depicted? Curator: Precisely. Holland's choices regarding materials and execution directly reflect the social and economic dynamism of the Rouen marketplace. Editor: I never thought about it that way. It definitely provides a new perspective.