Harbor Scene 19th-20th century

Curator: Here we have Denman Waldo Ross's watercolor, "Harbor Scene", which evokes such a dreamy stillness. Editor: It’s beautiful, yet… a little sad? Maybe it’s the muted palette or the way the light catches the building. The boats look almost ghostlike. Curator: Ross was deeply interested in color theory and harmonious composition. Look at the way he balances the golds of the sails against the grays of the water. Editor: I see layers of work and commerce here, of the people who built that structure and the daily work of maintaining these boats. How many hands have worked on this scene, even before Ross arrived with his watercolors? Curator: A lovely thought. It feels like Ross captured a fleeting moment, like a memory just on the verge of fading. Editor: Indeed. Its beauty lies in reminding us that everything is made, and everything passes.