Lumberville 

Curator: Looking at "Lumberville," it gives me a sensation like biting into a perfectly ripe apple, the kind you only find at roadside stands. There’s such immediate sweetness and an unpretentious charm. What does it stir in you? Editor: It’s certainly inviting! The houses almost seem nestled within a protective grove. We are observing a work by Fern Coppedge, a key figure in the Pennsylvania Impressionist movement, but it lacks a specific date. It exemplifies her signature style of painting en plein air. What’s truly compelling is how Coppedge represents both the raw industry and tranquil beauty in often-overlooked regional locales. Curator: The "en plein air" really shouts in this one. You can almost smell the leaves crunching underfoot, mixed with the faint scent of sawdust. I love how she juxtaposes the slightly geometric simplicity of the houses with the riotous, almost unruly, fall foliage. And that acidic green roof! It's a bold move, yet it works somehow. What strikes you about her colour palette? Editor: Coppedge used bold strokes that convey vibrancy. These bright, cheerful depictions of mills and factories in the Delaware River valley—subject matter generally ignored by contemporary artists—celebrated working-class communities while staying clear of overtly political commentary during the Depression era. So even those cheerful colours, may suggest a kind of intentional… glossing over, to promote an appealing narrative. Curator: An appealing narrative is key! She wasn’t after gritty realism. I wonder if it was a way of injecting hope and cheer into a place undergoing huge challenges. It almost feels like folk art elevated by an sophisticated impressionistic sensibility. It doesn't delve into deep critiques of capitalism. Editor: I agree—her engagement with Regionalism feels light, embracing a kind of optimistic, if somewhat uncomplicated, vision of America during the first half of the twentieth century. It makes us reflect on the purposes and expectations viewers project upon art. Curator: A perfect ending sentiment! Lumberville, a charming village rendered with equally charm and complexity by Coppedge. Thanks. Editor: Indeed, a vibrant glimpse into a specific region and era, prompting us to consider the relationship between industry, landscape, and artistic representation.