Watering Place c. 19th century

Curator: This is Jules-Jacques Veyrassat's "Watering Place," a pastoral scene currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: There's a quiet stillness to it, isn’t there? Achieved through the intricate hatching and cross-hatching, creating a wonderful tonal range. Curator: Veyrassat was known for depicting rural life with a sensitivity toward the working class, particularly animals and laborers. He exhibited widely and earned much success during his time. Editor: The composition, though seemingly simple, is masterful. The positioning of the horses and the trough creates a strong horizontal line, grounding the scene. Curator: Indeed. This image reflects the vital role of horses in 19th-century French agriculture and transport. The watering place served as a social hub, a place of rest. Editor: The delicate linework really captures the texture of the horses' coats and the rough surface of the building behind them. Curator: It offers a glimpse into a slower, more agrarian past. Editor: Yes, a reminder of the beauty found in simplicity.