House Among Trees c. 1890

Curator: Before us hangs Paul Cézanne's watercolor "House Among Trees," part of the Harvard Art Museums collection. Editor: My first impression is one of hazy seclusion; the colors are muted, and the house is nearly swallowed by the surrounding foliage. Curator: Notice how Cézanne uses distinct, overlapping planes of color to construct depth. He builds form through these delicate washes, eschewing traditional linear perspective. Editor: Yet, it speaks to the isolation of rural life, perhaps echoing anxieties of industrialization and urbanization that were prevalent at the time, as the house seems to be struggling to hold its place amidst the encroaching wilderness. Curator: Perhaps, but I see more a study in pure form and color. The subject, while recognizable, is almost secondary to the application of paint itself. Editor: I think you might be missing how Cézanne's technique disrupts conventional modes of seeing—he is not just painting what he sees, but also what he feels, engaging with the politics of space. Curator: Well, I find it a masterclass in visual problem-solving, a dance of composition and hue. Editor: And I find it speaks to the tensions between humanity and the natural world, a conversation still ongoing.