Flowers (Bellagio) 1921

Editor: So, this watercolor is "Flowers (Bellagio)" by Walter Gramatté, created sometime before his death in 1929. I’m struck by the almost melancholy mood despite the vibrant colors. What do you see in it? Curator: The blooms, especially the red gladioli, are symbols of strength and integrity, even defiance. Yet, placed against that cool blue, almost watery background, they evoke a sense of transience. The flowers push upwards, a testament to life, but the watercolor medium suggests fragility. What does that tension say to you? Editor: Maybe it’s about the fleeting nature of beauty, or the struggle to hold onto something vibrant in the face of… well, everything? Curator: Precisely! Gramatté captures the inherent duality of existence, the dance between blossoming and fading. It’s a powerful meditation. Editor: I hadn't considered the tension between the flowers and the medium itself, that brings a new layer to the work for me.