Arequipa, Peru 19th-20th century

Editor: This is Denman Waldo Ross’s "Arequipa, Peru," held at the Harvard Art Museums. The brushstrokes feel really loose, almost impressionistic. What can you tell me about the materials and process? Curator: It's fascinating how Ross uses the materiality of paint itself to evoke the landscape. Notice how the brushstrokes aren't just depicting form, but also the labor involved. Editor: So, the act of painting becomes part of the meaning? Curator: Exactly. Consider the social context - who had access to these materials, and whose labor went into producing them? The painting isn't just a pretty picture, it's a record of a specific material transaction. Editor: I never thought of it that way, it gives a whole new layer to the work. Curator: Indeed, by focusing on the process and materials, we start to see the painting as a product of its time and social circumstances.