Maisema ja hahmoja, luonnos 1910 - 1913

Editor: So this is Magnus Enckell’s "Landscape and Figures, Sketch" from 1910-1913, created using watercolors. The colors are so delicate, and it really captures a fleeting moment. What do you see when you look at this piece? Curator: I’m struck by the immediacy of the watercolor technique. Enckell's choice of this medium, which lends itself to portability and quick execution, speaks volumes about his process. It's a study, a sketch, which makes you think about the art market for smaller, quickly rendered landscape watercolors in the early 20th century. Why watercolor and not oil? How accessible were these materials? Editor: That’s an interesting point. I was focused on the Impressionistic feel, but thinking about the availability of materials is new to me. Did watercolor allow more artists to participate? Curator: Precisely! Watercolor allowed for more participation and offered quicker sale and smaller production times for Enckell and artists of that time, it detaches this style from that of oil, the traditionally ‘high’ medium of landscape paintings. How might Enckell's process and social class impact what he decides to paint or portray in this piece? Editor: I hadn’t considered how social factors could influence artistic choices that closely, but that gives the whole artwork a completely different weight. Curator: Absolutely, and what about the production itself? Is the quick execution something tied to economic imperatives or aesthetics? What’s more important? The materials, social forces, the product or artistic intention? Editor: I guess understanding the materials and context really shifts the meaning of a work. Thanks! Curator: Indeed, it allows for a much richer reading.