Pine Trees in the Snow with Rabbit Tracks before 1926

Curator: This is George Hawley Hallowell’s watercolor, "Pine Trees in the Snow with Rabbit Tracks," held here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Ah, the chill! It’s got a quiet, hushed kind of feeling. The colors are lovely; it really captures the weight of the snow. Curator: The watercolor medium allows for a very specific, almost ethereal depiction of the winter landscape, focusing on the physical presence of the snow-laden trees. It evokes the labor-intensive process of painting outdoors. Editor: I wonder what the rabbit was thinking, hopping through this scene. I’m projecting, I know, but I feel a kinship with its tiny tracks. Curator: That’s an interesting point about projecting. Hallowell’s choice of subject matter and medium speaks to a broader trend of embracing natural subjects and celebrating the material qualities of paint itself. Editor: It's almost like the trees are breathing in the cold air; a beautiful, silent meditation on nature, wouldn't you agree? Curator: I see it as an examination of how artistic production interacts with the natural world, and the consumption of these images by a specific audience. Editor: It's lovely to think of this piece sparking such varied interpretations, isn't it?