Landscape, Switzerland 19th-20th century

Editor: Here we have Denman Waldo Ross's "Landscape, Switzerland," a watercolor piece. I’m struck by the visible brushstrokes and the way the artist uses color to define form. What stands out to you? Curator: Considering the materiality of the work, note how Ross uses watercolor, a medium often associated with amateur or decorative arts, to depict a landscape. How does this choice challenge traditional hierarchies in art production? Editor: So, by using watercolor, he's questioning what's considered "high art"? Curator: Precisely! It prompts us to think about the social context in which certain materials and techniques are valued over others. We see the labour involved, the process of its making, and how these intersect with ideas of "fine art." Editor: That's fascinating, it makes me see the painting in a completely different light. Curator: Indeed, and it underlines how the means of production deeply inform our understanding and appreciation of art.