Doorway of San Pietro, Pistoia, Italy 1894

Editor: This watercolor by Joseph Smith depicts the "Doorway of San Pietro, Pistoia, Italy". It really highlights the textures and materials of the doorway. What draws your eye in this piece? Curator: Notice how Smith meticulously renders the different types of stone and the variations in their color. Consider the labor involved in quarrying, transporting, and carving these materials. The consumption of these resources speaks volumes about the church's power and the social hierarchy of the time. Editor: So, it's not just about the aesthetics, but about the system that allowed it to be built? Curator: Precisely! By focusing on the materials and their origin, we can unravel the complex economic and social structures that underpinned the creation of this doorway. It shifts our perception from mere appreciation to critical analysis. Editor: I’ve never thought about art quite like that before. Thanks!