Coal, Edgartown, Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts 19th-20th century

Editor: Here we have Denman Waldo Ross's watercolor titled "Coal, Edgartown, Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts." It feels a little bleak, perhaps because of the muted tones and industrial subject. What strikes you about this work? Curator: What I see is a study in the public perception of labor and industry in the early 20th century. Ross, connected to Harvard and its social circles, paints this scene with a certain detachment. How might his social standing have influenced his view of this working landscape? Editor: So, it's not just a landscape, but a commentary on social class and the role of industry? Curator: Precisely. Consider the 'Coal' sign; it’s not romanticized, but matter-of-fact. It suggests a functional space, not necessarily a picturesque one. Do you think this challenges or reinforces existing social hierarchies? Editor: That gives me a lot to consider about the image and its role in its time. Thanks.