Landscape with Figures 19th-20th century

Editor: This is Denman Waldo Ross’s "Landscape with Figures," at the Harvard Art Museums. It feels like a quick sketch, all charcoal and energy. What strikes you most about its composition? Curator: The dominance of vertical and diagonal strokes creates a dynamic tension. Notice how the artist uses hatching to define form and shadow, yet the overall image retains a sense of flatness. Editor: Flatness? Even with the implied depth of the trees and figures? Curator: Precisely. The linear quality overrides any illusionistic depth, emphasizing the two-dimensionality of the picture plane. The artist seems primarily interested in mark-making and surface texture. Editor: So, less about what is depicted and more about how it's depicted? I hadn't considered that. Curator: Exactly. Focusing on the formal elements allows a deeper understanding of artistic intent.