Late Afternoon, New York, Winter 

Editor: This is Childe Hassam's "Late Afternoon, New York, Winter," painted with watercolor, possibly en plein air. The overwhelming use of muted blues and greys creates a melancholic mood. How might we understand this work? Curator: Focusing on Hassam’s choice of watercolor immediately foregrounds the element of chance. The fluidity of the medium, combined with the ‘on-site’ approach, emphasizes a negotiation with the ephemeral conditions of a winter afternoon in the city. What does that immediacy suggest to you? Editor: That Hassam aimed to depict a literal moment in time. How does the medium itself contribute meaning beyond capturing an immediate sensation? Curator: Consider the industrialization occurring rapidly at this time. Hassam selected a medium historically associated with amateur practices, at a time where many artists tried to set themselves apart by making 'high art'. Editor: Ah, interesting. It is almost like a deliberate decision to make it part of an evolving industry. How was watercolor used otherwise at the time? Curator: The widespread production and consumption of watercolor paints positioned them within a broader network of commercial goods. The labor involved in producing these paints, the transportation, distribution, and eventual acquisition by artists all factor into understanding the socio-economic web surrounding even a seemingly simple cityscape. Is this starting to make sense? Editor: Absolutely. Considering watercolor's mass production, the artist seems to consciously engage with the burgeoning consumer culture. Thanks, I now perceive his art as part of a system, beyond pure aesthetic representation. Curator: Precisely. Hopefully, this helps us appreciate the complexity in something as seemingly simple as a watercolour of a snowy afternoon.