Untitled 

Curator: At first glance, it's incredibly whimsical! The swirl of musical notation combined with those almost dreamlike figures creates a rather enchanting sensation. There's definitely a playful quality to this pen sketch. Editor: Indeed. This “Untitled” drawing by Bernhard Hasler employs ink and other graphic art mediums. It seems to be connected with the art scene or figures of Salzburg. We can read on the image ‘Dedicated to the friends of Salzburg’, ‘Hugo von Hofmannsthal’, and ‘Richard Strauss’ as well. Curator: The lettering almost blends into the musical bars in places. And did you see the range of emotions playing out across the faces in the sketch? The way he has these little vignettes tucked away, little social commentaries. Editor: I wonder how this work engages the artistic and cultural circles of Salzburg. Considering Hofmannsthal's close association with Strauss and their work together on operas such as "Der Rosenkavalier", perhaps this relates to that context somehow. It could well represent Hasler's involvement with the cultural elite, showcasing a sense of community and perhaps even creative collaboration through dedication, here represented on the drawing. Curator: Yes, absolutely! I feel it captures this cultural spirit with its layered, allusive meanings. There is almost an air of irreverence to the way he mixes these elements. Also the self-reference, with his name as the artist on it. Is it an affirmation or the acknowledgement of the making? Editor: Self-identification for an artist. Also in placing musical luminaries beside his own signature, perhaps Hasler is suggesting lithography’s rightful place among artistic disciplines at this time? What place has it held within these institutional circles? Curator: He invites a whole series of interpretations. Thinking about the pens and ink in their physicality and Hasler’s name inscribed, you almost have the ingredients of artistic creation. It's about cultural production, what gets valued, and how relationships – even patronage – intertwine with creative endeavors. Editor: Exactly. In essence, Hasler presents us not only with a whimsical portrait but also opens a portal onto the social, cultural dynamics. Curator: A vibrant tableau of art. Editor: One that hints at more complex structures.