Cool Afternoon-- Wind and Dazzle 19th-20th century

Curator: Hopkinson's watercolor, "Cool Afternoon-- Wind and Dazzle" presents a coastal scene, all blues and purples. The jagged rocks in the foreground give way to a dazzling sea. Editor: The materiality of this piece—the fluidity of the watercolor on paper—creates such an airy lightness. It really evokes that sense of cool wind. Curator: Indeed. Hopkinson's choice of watercolor lends itself to capturing the transient nature of light and atmosphere. It's all about immediacy. I wonder what inspired his process here. Editor: The composition itself is quite striking, isn't it? The way those rocks frame the ocean draws your eye to the horizon. There's a dialogue between the solid forms and the ephemeral qualities of the sea. Curator: Looking at this, I imagine the act of painting outdoors. It must have been challenging to work with watercolor by the sea. Editor: Precisely! Thinking about the artist's experience and the inherent properties of the medium enriches our understanding of the image. Curator: A fine point. It all adds up to a great visual experience.