Verona; verso: Sketch of Buildings 1889

Curator: This watercolor landscape, titled "Verona; verso: Sketch of Buildings," comes to us from the hand of Joseph Smith. Editor: It's dreamy, almost hazy. The soft colors give it a very tranquil, almost melancholic feel. Curator: Smith captures Verona with delicate washes, likely influenced by the picturesque movement. The composition draws heavily on romantic ideals. Editor: I see how that artistic lens shapes the way we perceive the Italian landscape. Where might this fit in terms of power dynamics? Curator: Consider how wealthy tourists consumed such images. Representations of the Italian countryside reinforced notions of leisure and privilege. Editor: Right, and who had access to that leisure, and whose labor sustained it? It’s important to think about those unseen aspects of the image. Curator: Indeed, this work invites us to consider the socio-economic realities behind seemingly idyllic scenes. Editor: This makes what at first appeared as melancholic, seem rather critical.