Houses in Simplon Village 1877

Editor: We're looking at "Houses in Simplon Village" by Charles Herbert, currently at the Harvard Art Museums. It’s a small watercolor piece, and I'm immediately struck by the way the buildings seem to almost dissolve into the landscape. What do you see in this piece? Curator: It feels like a memory, doesn't it? The sketched-in landscape, the palpable stillness... Herbert captures the soul of these humble dwellings, a quiet dignity. I imagine the artist, sketching in the crisp mountain air, feeling a deep connection to this place. Does it evoke a sense of place for you? Editor: Absolutely, there's a sense of timelessness, even if the sketch isn't perfectly realistic. I suppose that's what gives it such charm. Curator: Precisely! It invites us to dream, to wander, to find beauty in the everyday. A simple image, yet so deeply resonant. Editor: Definitely something to think about; thanks!