Two Landscape Sketches 19th-20th century

Editor: This is "Two Landscape Sketches" by Denman Waldo Ross, housed at the Harvard Art Museums. It's a watercolor piece, and I’m immediately drawn to the loose, almost hurried brushstrokes. What can you tell me about its historical context? Curator: Considering Ross's background and the period, this sketch likely reflects the rise of plein air painting and its democratizing effect on art. How might the accessibility of materials influence artistic choices and the presentation of landscapes to the public? Editor: That's interesting. So, its 'unfinished' look could be a deliberate artistic choice? Curator: Precisely. It invites the viewer into the artist's process. What socio-economic factors might have led to the popularization of these smaller, more intimate landscape studies? Editor: I hadn't considered the social aspect of landscape painting before. Thanks for broadening my perspective!