Hommage to classic 2017

Curator: This artwork is titled "Hommage to Classic", a watercolor cityscape created by Alfred Freddy Krupa in 2017. Editor: Immediately, I am struck by its quiet stillness. The muted palette evokes that heavy silence that follows a snowfall, wouldn't you agree? Curator: Absolutely. Krupa's choice of watercolor really lends itself to capturing the fleeting and ephemeral quality of light in winter. Considering the title, I wonder what the "classic" refers to? Is it a commentary on traditional landscape painting? Or perhaps an ode to impressionistic scenes? Editor: That's a really pertinent question. Looking at the light and the softness of the scene, there is something undeniably impressionistic here in its dedication to light. But Krupa, living and working in a time very different from Monet, could also be commenting on the cultural dominance of that particular "classic" view of nature. This might invite discussions about how accessibility to such imagery is shaped by power dynamics. Who decides what landscape scenes deserve immortalization through art? Curator: I agree, and furthermore, his style presents a modern perspective on realism through his subtle yet confident brushstrokes, despite his traditional stylistic influences. I find myself reflecting on the relationship between realism, and social realism particularly, and this could perhaps spark wider dialogues about how artists use, challenge, and pay respect to the artistic canon. Editor: Yes, Krupa gives us enough familiarity to lull us into a certain comfort zone, then subtly invites us to contemplate why we find such wintry scenes aesthetically pleasing, culturally speaking. Winter, especially as framed here with this potential for privileged viewing, might carry various significances related to class and power too. Curator: A fascinating proposition. I leave now with an increased interest in the potential power dynamics existing even in the quiet stillness of a winter scene captured with watercolor. Editor: Likewise! "Hommage to Classic" presents a rich layering of art historical nods, and invitations to broader interrogations, prompting all of us to contemplate what we regard as "classic," and why.