The Cathedral of St. John the Divine from Morningside Park 1914

Editor: Here we have "The Cathedral of St. John the Divine from Morningside Park" created around 1914 by Rachael Robinson Elmer, using watercolor and colored pencil. The artwork gives off such a tranquil and pleasant mood! The architectural forms are almost dream-like! What strikes you when you examine this piece? Curator: Immediately, the layering and manipulation of space compel close attention. Note how Elmer deliberately flattens the pictorial space, almost collapsing the distance between the foreground figures and the imposing cathedral in the background. What do you observe about the relationship between light and form here? Editor: It feels like the light isn’t necessarily realistic; rather, it serves to highlight specific aspects, especially the cathedral. Curator: Precisely. Notice the delicate washes of color; the artist uses hues and textures to draw your eye upward, emphasizing the monumentality and the geometry of the Cathedral. Do you observe anything unusual in the application of materials? Editor: Now that you mention it, there’s a blending of what seems like both watercolor and perhaps crayon, giving an interesting texture especially within the trees. Curator: An astute observation. Elmer masterfully blends the transparent fluidity of watercolor with the opacity of colored pencil, thus creating depth without relying on traditional perspective. Consider also how the placement of those figures, seemingly absorbed in play, reinforces the Cathedral as a fixed point of permanence. Editor: That makes so much sense! It highlights how the artist can suggest a sense of depth and importance. Thank you, I'm seeing this painting in a completely new light. Curator: Indeed, through careful examination of an artist's formal decisions we find there's always new to discover.