Shadows at 5 P.M., Simplon Village 1877

Editor: Here we see Charles Herbert's watercolor, "Shadows at 5 P.M., Simplon Village." It feels very serene, almost staged. What stands out to you about this piece? Curator: I'm drawn to the labor hinted at. The woman in the foreground, the figure carrying something on their back... This isn't just a picturesque scene, but a record of daily toil in this village. What can the materiality of watercolor, its portability, tell us about Herbert's process and perspective? Editor: That's a great point! It makes you consider the lives lived here. Curator: Precisely. And how those lives intersect with the creation and consumption of art. Editor: I hadn't thought about it that way. Thank you! Curator: My pleasure. Art is always tied to material conditions.