Route 2 c. 20th century

Curator: Here we have Agnes A. Abbot's watercolor, "Route 2", held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It’s immediately atmospheric, almost claustrophobic. The muted palette really conveys that feeling of being on a busy road at dusk. Curator: Note how Abbot utilizes the fluidity of watercolor to depict the blurred lights and wet surfaces. The brushstrokes themselves mimic the streaks of rain or perhaps the motion of passing cars. Editor: I'm struck by the industrial feel, even if it's rendered in watercolor. The materials used—water, pigment, paper—are so delicate, yet they portray something quite harsh: a road churning with traffic, likely consuming fossil fuels. Curator: Precisely. The somber tones create a visual language that evokes a sense of urban unease. Consider the composition—the arrangement of dark forms against a fading sky. Editor: It's a nice reminder that even mundane scenes, like a congested highway, are products of complex social and material processes. Curator: A fascinating contrast, and a powerful image achieved with subtle means. Editor: It certainly provides much to contemplate.