Sunset, Ronda, Spain 19th-20th century

Editor: This watercolor is "Sunset, Ronda, Spain" by Denman Waldo Ross, located at the Harvard Art Museums. The vibrant colors really strike me. What sociopolitical forces might have shaped Ross's choice to depict this landscape in such a way? Curator: It's interesting to consider how travel and artistic movements intersected. Ross, likely part of the American elite, traveled to Spain. How might his experience of the landscape been shaped by Orientalist fantasies or romantic notions of the "exotic"? Editor: That's a fascinating angle I hadn't considered. Curator: Think about how artistic production at the time was influenced by global exchange and power dynamics. Reflecting upon these aspects enriches our understanding. Editor: It definitely adds another layer of interpretation. Thanks!