Assouan, Egypt 1896

Editor: Here we have Denman Waldo Ross's "Assouan, Egypt," an oil on canvas. The subdued palette creates a rather tranquil feeling, and the composition is dominated by horizontals. What stands out to you? Curator: Observe how Ross articulates space, not through linear perspective, but through subtle shifts in color and value. Note, for instance, the treatment of light and shadow in delineating the architectural form atop the hill. How does this affect your perception? Editor: It flattens the space, but also emphasizes the texture of the crumbling structure. It feels very modern. Curator: Indeed. Ross deftly uses the materiality of paint to evoke the arid landscape. The brushstrokes themselves become integral to the subject. The lack of detail invites a focus on the abstract qualities of the composition. Editor: I hadn't considered the abstraction at play, focusing instead on the representational aspects. Thanks! Curator: A pleasure. It’s in this interplay between representation and abstraction that the painting finds its potency.