Bari 19th-20th century

Editor: Here we have Denman Waldo Ross's watercolor, Bari. The pastel hues give it an ethereal feel. What do you see in this piece? Curator: This image offers a glimpse into the colonial gaze and the romanticization of Southern Italy. Considering the era, how might Ross's depiction reinforce or challenge existing power dynamics of tourism and cultural appropriation? Editor: So it's about the power of the gaze? Curator: Precisely. It prompts us to think about whose stories are told and how they're framed within broader socio-political contexts. Reflect on the absence of the inhabitants and the implications of the chosen perspective. Editor: That makes me look at the painting in a totally different light. Curator: Absolutely. Art provides such an opportunity to reassess our understandings.