Near Barnstable, Massachusetts 19th-20th century

Curator: This is a watercolor titled "Near Barnstable, Massachusetts" by Denman Waldo Ross, held here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It feels… unfinished, almost like a fleeting thought captured quickly in watery hues. It's melancholic, yet somehow soothing too. Curator: Ross was very interested in color theory, you know. He used watercolor to explore how different hues interact, especially in landscapes. He saw art's purpose as primarily aesthetic. Editor: Right, and that explains the somewhat detached feeling I get. It's less about the place itself and more about the artist’s exploration of light and color on the water and the distant hills. The figures are so small, almost incidental. Curator: It's true, he was more interested in the formal qualities. The art world at the time was debating the purpose of art, and he fell squarely on the side of beauty and design. Editor: So, it's a study of aesthetics, filtered through the lens of a Massachusetts landscape. I find that detachment oddly compelling. Curator: It makes you consider what beauty means, or what should be considered beautiful. Editor: Exactly, and how context and intention shape our perception of even the simplest scenes.