Street Procession; verso: Figures 19th-20th century

Curator: This is Joseph Smith's "Street Procession," an intimate painting currently residing here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Wow, what a flurry of color! I feel like I'm hovering above a buzzing crowd, all electric blues, reds, and yellows. Curator: Indeed. Smith captures the collective energy of a public gathering, perhaps a religious or civic event. We can consider how the artist's perspective—an elevated, almost detached viewpoint—impacts our understanding of community and belonging. Editor: It's interesting, isn't it? I get a sense of both celebration and anonymity. So many individuals, yet they almost blend into a single, moving mass. It makes me think about the individual lost in the crowd. Curator: Precisely. And it makes me consider the power dynamics at play, the roles people assume within these rituals. Smith gives us a glimpse into the layered meanings embedded within such events. Editor: It makes me wonder about the individual stories hidden in that buzzing sea of humanity. I leave with more questions than answers. Curator: And perhaps that's the point. Smith prompts us to question, to reflect, and to see the world with new eyes.