Dew Drops 

Arthur Bowen Davies painted "Dew Drops" with oil on canvas. The scene, with its figures and grazing goats, evokes an Arcadian dreamworld, an idea that was very popular at the time. Davies embraced a fluid, almost impressionistic style. He applied the paint in loose, visible strokes, allowing the texture of the brushwork to contribute to the overall effect. This approach would have been considered avant-garde by many, breaking away from academic traditions that valued smooth, blended surfaces. Consider the social context. The early 20th century was a period of rapid industrialization, urbanization, and changing social norms. Artists like Davies often turned to pastoral themes as a form of escapism, seeking refuge in idealized visions of nature and simpler ways of life. But oil paint was itself a product of industrialization. Think of the factories churning out paints, brushes, and canvases, all contributing to the artist’s process. So, "Dew Drops" reflects a complex relationship between nature, industry, and artistic expression. It reminds us that even in the most idyllic scenes, the traces of labor and commerce are never far away.