Florence, Italy 19th-20th century

Editor: Here we have Denman Waldo Ross's watercolor, "Florence, Italy." It feels like a quick impression, capturing the light on the water. What stands out to you about how Florence is portrayed? Curator: The loose brushwork reflects the rise of Impressionism and its impact on American artists engaging with European subjects. But consider, too, the context: tourism became increasingly accessible, shaping expectations and romanticized views of cities like Florence, reinforcing its cultural capital. Editor: So, the painting participates in a broader marketing of Florence? Curator: Precisely. It simplifies a complex urban space for easy consumption. Ross gives us a digestible image, devoid of social complexities. How does this light touch affect our experience? Editor: I hadn't thought about it that way. It makes me consider the power of representation and who gets to shape the narrative of a place.