Promontory, Surinam 19th-20th century

Editor: Denman Waldo Ross's watercolor, "Promontory, Surinam," presents a vibrant coastal scene. The materiality of the watercolor gives it a light, airy quality. What can you tell me about it? Curator: I see a clear engagement with the tools and materials of painting itself. Ross's application of watercolor brings the social context of leisure and artistic training into focus. How might his access to materials and the time to create such a work reflect privilege and colonialism in Surinam? Editor: That's a perspective I hadn't considered. It makes me think about who had the resources for artistic expression during that time. Thank you for pointing that out. Curator: Examining art through its production and consumption opens up many possibilities for interpretation.