Landscape with Buildings Seen from a Hilltop 19th-20th century

Curator: Here we see Denman Waldo Ross's pencil sketch, "Landscape with Buildings Seen from a Hilltop," housed right here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It has a rather unfinished, ethereal quality, wouldn’t you say? Almost like a fleeting memory rendered in graphite. I wonder about the type of pencil used to create such delicate linework. Curator: I agree. And the perspective, looking down on the buildings, gives a sense of detachment, perhaps reflecting Ross's own position as an observer within society. Editor: Or, perhaps, his consideration of the labor required to construct and maintain the buildings on the hilltop. The rough edges of the paper also hint at the raw materiality involved in artmaking. Curator: I appreciate your bringing in the material aspect, grounding it within the social context. It offers a richer understanding. Editor: Likewise, your insights into Ross's perspective add depth. Curator: Indeed, there's always more to discover when we blend our approaches.