Early One Morning 

Editor: This is “Early One Morning,” an oil painting, possibly painted en plein air. I’m immediately drawn to how the artist captured the light. The shadows on the street suggest it really is early morning. What can you tell me about this piece? Curator: It’s interesting to consider this cityscape in terms of social commentary. Plein air painting, while seemingly straightforward, became increasingly accessible with the rise of portable paint tubes and easels, democratizing art-making. Do you think the subject matter reflects this shift? How might choosing an everyday scene in a city play into a broader artistic and social context? Editor: That's a good point. Before, art seemed to focus on the elite. This feels like a deliberate choice to show ordinary life. Is it common for realist or impressionist painters to take up cityscapes? Curator: Absolutely. Think about the rapid urbanization during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Artists responded to this changing landscape, documenting and interpreting the social impact of industrialization, migration, and evolving urban experiences. So, is this a snapshot of the new experience of a city dweller? Editor: That gives the work a whole new dimension. I was focused on the light and technique, but it really shows an era being captured. Thanks! Curator: Precisely! Reflecting on it now, I am compelled to question my own reading, and perhaps even delve more into this subject of the new "Urban Dweller."