Malaga, Spain 19th-20th century

Editor: Here we have Denman Waldo Ross's watercolor, "Malaga, Spain." I'm struck by how he uses such delicate washes of color to define the landscape. What do you see in terms of the formal elements at play? Curator: The chromatic scale leans towards the analogous; observe the dominance of pinks and blues, skillfully employed to create depth. Note the use of negative space – how does the untouched paper contribute to the overall composition? Editor: It almost feels like the light itself is a subject of the work. Curator: Precisely. The artist manipulates the translucency of the watercolor to suggest atmospheric conditions. Do you perceive a hierarchy in the application of pigment, guiding the viewer’s eye? Editor: I see how the density increases toward the base of the hill, anchoring the composition. It’s fascinating how much Ross achieves with such subtle variations in tone and texture. Curator: Indeed. The artist's masterful control over the medium is evident.