Wooded Landscape c. 20th century

Curator: We are looking at Joel Babb's "Wooded Landscape", held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's immediately striking—the dense layering of blacks and grays creates an almost palpable sense of depth, a feeling of being enveloped by the woods. Curator: Indeed. Consider how landscapes have historically been imbued with notions of national identity and belonging. Here, the lack of human presence invites us to contemplate our relationship with nature. Who are we within this space? Editor: And it's interesting how Babb uses watercolor to capture the texture and light. You can almost feel the dampness of the forest floor, or consider the paper itself as a material, a resource. Curator: Absolutely. The absence of color is also key. It compels us to confront the foundational elements. In what way does the material shape our perspective on nature itself? Editor: This piece makes me think about the labor involved in resource extraction and the representation of nature in art. Curator: It leaves one pondering our cultural narrative and how we situate ourselves within these spaces. Editor: Exactly, a lovely dialogue between process and nature.