Boats on the Water c. 19th century

Curator: This watercolor, "Boats on the Water," is in the style of Joseph Mallord William Turner and resides here at the Harvard Art Museums. It evokes such a sense of calm. The way the light catches the water… it’s almost dreamlike, don't you think? Editor: Absolutely. The piece romanticizes labor and leisure, almost obscuring the colonial underpinnings of maritime trade and the socio-economic disparities inherent in such leisurely scenes. Curator: I can see that, sure, but I'm more drawn to how the artist captured the fleeting light. It reminds me of a memory, a hazy sunset on the water, where time seems to still, if only for a bit. It's so delicate. Editor: The delicacy is deceptive. It masks the historical realities of exploitation. Who benefits from this beauty? Who is excluded? Curator: Well, it's certainly given me something to think about. Editor: Indeed. It's a reminder that art is never neutral—it always reflects and reinforces power dynamics.