Quarry - Rockport c. 20th century

Editor: This is Samuel Green's "Quarry - Rockport." It's hard to tell exactly when it was made, but Green lived from 1757 to 1834. It's currently at the Harvard Art Museums. I find the landscape so stark and suggestive. What symbols resonate with you in this piece? Curator: The quarry itself. A wound in the earth, signifying human alteration of the natural world. But look closer; the houses perch precariously on the edge. Do they symbolize settlement, industry, or perhaps vulnerability in the face of relentless progress? Editor: I hadn't thought of them as vulnerable, just… there. So the image is about balance, or the lack thereof? Curator: Perhaps. The reflection in the water also carries meaning, a mirrored world both present and absent, a reminder of what was and what could be lost. Food for thought, isn't it?