Untitled [Water Lilies] 19th-20th century

Editor: This is an "Untitled [Water Lilies]" from the 19th-20th century by William B. Post, and it's a watercolor piece held here at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. The composition is so ethereal, almost dreamlike. What strikes you most about the formal elements? Curator: Immediately, the tonal range captivates. The limited palette, primarily in shades of grey, encourages a contemplation of value and its capacity to define form. Note how the artist modulates the washes to create a subtle interplay of light and shadow, suggesting depth within a seemingly flat picture plane. Editor: So it's the grayscale that really draws the eye? I'm wondering about the overall design and visual relationship. Curator: Precisely. The artist has used horizontal lines established by water surface in opposition to vertical ones by stems and buds creating the field of the artwork. We can analyse the relationship between figure and ground as an oscillation of planes as well as shapes, with petals reflected by shimmering water creating additional layers within each horizontal section or block. Now, what effect does the seemingly loose application of pigment achieve? Editor: I guess, rather than being realistic, it pushes towards abstraction and highlights the properties of watercolor as a medium itself. It’s very impressionistic! Curator: Indeed. The inherent fluidity of watercolor is embraced to depict a fleeting moment in nature, evoking a sense of tranquility and quiet contemplation through colour. What have you observed about the placement and proportion in creating meaning? Editor: That is fascinating. This approach moves beyond mere representation of the subject. I noticed the lilies are at various spots of the pond - top, bottom, the middle ground creating that three-dimensional perspective. I'll definitely think differently now! Curator: And that is exactly how the artist prompts an ongoing dialogue!