Stormy Seascape c. 1880s

Editor: Here we have John Appleton Brown's "Stormy Seascape" at the Harvard Art Museums. The rough textures and dark palette give it such a dramatic feel. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I'm immediately drawn to the artist's process. Look at how Brown builds up the surface with layers of chalk and pastel to evoke the churning sea. The materiality itself speaks to the power of nature and the labor involved in capturing it. Editor: So, you're focusing on the… the making of the image itself? Curator: Exactly! Consider the industrial production of these art supplies. How does the availability and affordability of these materials shape artistic expression? Editor: That’s a perspective I hadn't considered. Thanks for highlighting the process. Curator: It’s crucial to examine the means of production in art. It really changes our understanding.