Street Scene 1886

Editor: This is Denman Waldo Ross’s "Street Scene," a pencil drawing. It feels like a quick study. What strikes me is how he captures the light and shadow with such simple materials. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I'm drawn to the way Ross uses the pencil to depict the textures of the buildings and the cobblestone street. It highlights the labor inherent in crafting the built environment. Consider how the drawing itself replicates a form of labor, translating the physical world through a material process. Editor: So, you're seeing the drawing as a reflection on the work that goes into creating a place? Curator: Precisely. And how that work is then consumed, represented, and, in a sense, commodified through art. It makes us think about the relationship between art, labor, and our daily environment. Editor: I never thought about a drawing in that way. Thanks, that's given me a lot to consider!