Taormina, Sicily 19th-20th century

Curator: This watercolor work, titled "Taormina, Sicily," is by Denman Waldo Ross and is part of the collection at the Harvard Art Museums. It captures a coastal view in delicate washes of color. Editor: It has a very serene quality; the muted palette and soft edges create a dreamlike atmosphere. The craftsmanship is really evident. Curator: Absolutely, and watercolor, by its nature, lends itself to that ephemeral feel. I’m particularly interested in the relationship between Ross’s choice of medium and the historical context. Travel sketches like this one, would have often been created for a patron. Editor: I was thinking about the production of these pigments, where did the artist buy them, and how would someone like Ross have experienced Taormina compared to the local labor that supported tourism to Sicily? Curator: Those are crucial questions! Considering the social and economic structures at play informs how we interpret this picturesque scene. Editor: Indeed. It allows us to see beyond the idyllic surface and consider the broader network of production and consumption that made such images possible. It's a quiet piece, but it speaks volumes.