Landscape with Playing Field 1894

Editor: Here we have Denman Waldo Ross's "Landscape with Playing Field," likely painted in November of 1894. I find it quite charming, with its almost childlike simplicity. What's your take? Curator: Charming indeed! The ochre field juxtaposed against those vibrant red roofs creates a playful tension. Ross seems to be inviting us into a memory, a fleeting impression of a village scene. Perhaps he wanted to show the joy of outdoor play? Editor: So you think the loose brushstrokes and simplified forms add to that sense of nostalgia? Curator: Absolutely. It’s as if Ross is painting a feeling, not just a place. It makes me wonder what games were being played on that field. I almost feel I can hear the echoes of children's laughter. Editor: I hadn't thought of it that way, but I like that. It does feel very personal and dreamlike.