Hindoo Ablutions c. 19th century

Curator: Editor: This is William Say's "Hindoo Ablutions," made in the 18th or 19th century. It feels to me like a scene from a dream, almost sepia-toned. What do you make of it? Curator: Oh, "dreamy" is spot on! It's like a memory half-forgotten. Look at the way the light seems to cling to the trees, and the hazy distance. Do you think Say was trying to capture a specific place, or something more internal? Editor: Perhaps something internal. I almost wonder, is it really India? The architecture in the distance feels more Greco-Roman. Curator: Exactly! Maybe "Hindoo" is a misnomer. It's a reminder that artists often blend what they see with what they imagine, creating their own personal landscapes. Editor: So true! I will have to think about that. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure! It's a print that keeps giving, doesn't it?