Strolling 

Editor: This is a watercolour by Charles Demuth entitled 'Strolling'. I see a trio of figures out for a walk. The figures are quite sketchy and somewhat whimsical with understated colour and casual fluidity. There's a fourth, almost an afterthought... a little dog at their feet. What do you make of it? Curator: Oh, my dears, isn’t it just delightful? Like a faded memory, a whispered story of a day gone by. The muted watercolours lend such an ephemeral quality. Look at how the lines dance, suggesting form without fully committing to it. Demuth captures a fleeting moment of connection; I wonder what they are speaking about? Is it intimacy, or rather observation from a distance, do you feel? Editor: Observation, I think. There’s something detached about their poses. They're together, but almost self-contained. The figure with the cane almost seems separate from the rest. What is it about this quiet simplicity that’s so engaging? Curator: It's precisely that, isn't it? Demuth pares it all down to the essentials. And with those spare lines and watery hues he conjures the essence of an intimate stroll... or does he? There’s almost something mischievous about that tiny pup; is that Demuth, watching? Perhaps Demuth has woven something secret within plain view! It has changed how I see the piece, it is wonderful. Editor: I think so too. All the colours seemed flat before and now they shine out; thanks for drawing my attention to those details! Curator: You found your own way. Art is nothing, my dear, without that!