During Rain 

Editor: Here we have "During Rain" by Stefan Popescu, an oil painting in the plein-air style. The somber greens and muted yellows create quite the melancholic atmosphere. What stands out to you in this piece? Curator: What I see is a painting grappling with the themes of temporality and our relationship to a changing environment. Consider the "pathetic fallacy" so often used, where nature reflects human emotion; is this a sad painting because it is raining, or is our projection influencing our interpretation? How does that interaction reveal larger societal relationships to weather and climate, particularly in light of contemporary anxieties? Editor: So, you're saying the painting might not just be a depiction of a rainy day? Curator: Exactly. Think about landscape painting historically. It's often been used to assert ownership over land, to romanticize rural life, or to mask environmental exploitation. Does this painting disrupt or perpetuate those power dynamics? Who benefits from the framing of this landscape in this specific way? Editor: That's a very different lens. It does make me consider the absence of people in the image. Is it a commentary on nature's indifference to human affairs? Curator: Perhaps. Or maybe it is about a temporary absence. Rain affects everyone, and likely influences productivity, labour, migration, health… how might all these things shape the future in the face of growing social disparities? Editor: I see. I initially took the painting at face value, but you've shown how it opens up discussions about social issues. Curator: That's the beauty of art! It encourages us to question our assumptions and understand our place within broader narratives. Editor: Definitely gives me a lot to think about when looking at other landscape paintings in the future.