Two women conversing on a porch 

Edwin Austin Abbey created this watercolor, "Two women conversing on a porch", in the late 19th or early 20th century, using paper and pigments. The choice of watercolor is interesting. Unlike oil paint, which allows for layers and corrections, watercolor demands a certain immediacy and transparency. You can see the way the paint bleeds and blends, creating a hazy, dreamlike effect. This was perfect for capturing a fleeting moment of social interaction. The light washes and blurred edges soften the scene, obscuring the details of the women's faces and clothing. Abbey’s use of this medium imbues the work with cultural significance through its association with leisure and the domestic sphere. This watercolor on paper challenges our perceptions of the work involved in art making. It also urges us to reconsider the labor involved in the social rituals it depicts. Ultimately, this focus on materials and making prompts us to consider how we value both artistic creation and everyday interactions.