Autumn in the mountains 

Editor: We’re looking at "Autumn in the mountains," a watercolour and colored pencil drawing on paper by Richard Petraschke. The colours are so muted and delicate, it almost feels like a memory rather than a scene. What's your take? Curator: Memory is a perfect word! It has that elusive quality. Notice how the mountains bleed into the sky, dissolving those rigid boundaries we often expect in landscapes. The blues and purples create such a harmonious effect. Editor: Definitely, it's dreamlike. There's a clear separation of layers. Why do you think he chose such soft hues? Curator: Well, Petraschke seems less concerned with topographical accuracy and more interested in capturing a feeling, an emotional landscape. The colors create a sense of peace. Do you get that sense? Editor: Yes, absolutely. It’s calm and almost… nostalgic. But if he wasn’t concerned about accurate depiction, what *was* he trying to communicate? Curator: Perhaps it's the ephemeral nature of autumn itself – a season of change, of letting go. It could be about the fading of light and the softening of the world as it prepares for winter. What if the painting isn’t just *of* a mountain but *is* a feeling? Editor: That's a great way to look at it. I was so focused on the “what” of the painting I forgot to feel the "why" and "how". Thanks! Curator: My pleasure! I think we both discovered a bit of our inner landscape, alongside Petraschke's. A beautiful journey!