Walking in the Hills 

Curator: Well, here's a painting radiating the freshness of a summer afternoon: Edward Henry Potthast's "Walking in the Hills". Editor: It's undeniably charming. My first impression is of fleeting happiness. There's something so carefree about the scene, the light, the figures... almost as though you are watching a happy memory. Curator: Potthast was very taken with the plein air style, a method where artists paint outdoors, capturing the immediate impression of light and color, and "Walking in the Hills" feels totally like that: spontaneous. The quick, broken brushstrokes really give you a sense of movement. I get that joyful feeling too! Editor: Absolutely. The attire they are wearing makes me consider the symbolism around white clothing. It's suggesting purity, innocence, perhaps even a sense of optimistic anticipation. Yet, at the same time, white has often been associated with mourning; the transience of time perhaps? I see it and wonder about who is now looking at those people, their history known to only a few. Curator: That's a fantastic insight, actually. I get this very American sense of optimistic possibility here, perhaps that sense of escaping to the seaside or open country. It's certainly evocative... Almost like watching a scene from a dream. And a bunch of those impressionists did take it a step further. Did they always get that balance? Sometimes they are trying too hard. Editor: And that kind of balance, well it's interesting you pick up on that, I'd agree. Do the people who find their place in society get their sense of belonging right either? How much is confidence? Or indeed a facade? It reminds me that, sometimes, happiness might also just be about pretending a little bit. A bit of naive acceptance can do us good at times... perhaps Potthast wanted to catch a scene like that, and for us to catch something from the ladies and be reminded. Curator: Yes, I'm convinced he definitely aimed to stir up that joyful vibe in our bellies as much as the paint and landscape. What can I say, that impression really sticks with me. I find the way the breeze seems to caress the canvas absolutely beautiful, you can almost hear the ladies laughing in the sunlight! Editor: It's been illuminating, exploring these layers beyond the immediate surface joy. This impressionist walk reveals some insightful paths for thought.