Buildings 19th-20th century

Curator: Ah, here’s Denman Waldo Ross’s watercolor, simply titled "Buildings." The Harvard Art Museums hold this little gem. Editor: It feels like a daydream, all soft edges and muted tones. Is it me, or is there a slight melancholy hanging in the air? Curator: I see it too. The figures are small, almost absorbed by the architecture. The tower, a classic symbol of stability and faith, feels distant. Editor: The buildings themselves seem to whisper stories. The balcony, that sliver of white laundry… they hint at lives lived within these stone walls. There’s a memory embedded here, I can feel it. Curator: Ross was fascinated with color theory. Notice how he uses the gray and brown hues to evoke a sense of timelessness? Editor: It's more than just color, it's about the weight of history, the layers of time. The eye is drawn upward, to the church steeple, but is held back by the solidity of the buildings. I find it quite a compelling tension. Curator: Absolutely. He captures the essence of a place, beyond just its physical appearance. Ross certainly gave us something special to ponder. Editor: It’s a wistful glimpse into someone else's world. So much is suggested, so little defined, and it’s utterly captivating.