Venice 19th-20th century

Editor: So, here's Denman Waldo Ross's "Venice," a lovely little oil painting at the Harvard Art Museums. The colors are so soft, almost dreamlike. What do you see in this piece? Curator: A memory, perhaps? The blurry edges and pastel hues whisper of a Venice recalled from a gondola, years later. Ross isn't giving us reality; he's offering a feeling, an echo. Notice how the water mirrors the sky, blurring the lines between earth and heaven. Editor: I do. It almost feels like the building is floating. Curator: Exactly! It's a clever trick, isn't it? It begs the question: what is solid, and what is merely a reflection of our own experiences? Food for thought! Editor: I never thought of it that way. Curator: Art is such a fun mirror, isn't it? Editor: Definitely!