Gezicht op stromingen in een rivier bij Avondale 1800

Editor: So, this watercolor is called "Gezicht op stromingen in een rivier bij Avondale," or "View of currents in a river at Avondale," created around 1800 by John Hassell. It's beautiful and calming but I'm curious about the material choices, especially for a landscape. What's your perspective? Curator: My interest lies in the artist's choices given the context of artistic production. Hassell used watercolor, a readily available and relatively inexpensive medium. Do you think that influences how we see landscape art and its role in society at the time? Editor: That’s interesting, I never thought about watercolor as a factor itself! Does it maybe connect it more to "everyday" art rather than high art? Curator: Precisely. The accessibility of watercolor aligns the work with the emerging middle class. Consider the implications – it brings art production, previously exclusive, closer to amateur artists. How do you think this shift impacted art consumption and value at the time? Editor: I suppose that democratizing art could allow for greater access, influencing what kind of scenes become popular. Things someone could see in real life! And does this change the market as a whole, by allowing more players to participate, or do more expensive mediums remain "higher class"? Curator: The existence of pieces such as this one blurs those established boundaries of fine art versus craft or even commodity, challenging us to consider the evolving role of the artist and their place in the emerging consumer society. Editor: It definitely shifts my understanding to think about it this way! The materials themselves change the social context. Curator: Absolutely. By examining the materials and production, we gain insights into the social fabric in which art is made and consumed.