Untitled 1961

Curator: Let's turn our attention to this untitled mixed-media print from 1961 by Alfred Leslie. Its sharp lines and blocks of color definitely command attention. Editor: My first impression? Restless energy! It feels unfinished, yet deliberately so. The stark geometric forms fighting with these loose, expressive brushstrokes…it's a study in contrasts. Curator: Precisely. Leslie’s work in the early '60s oscillated between Abstract Expressionism and a burgeoning interest in representational imagery. You see that conflict played out here. Editor: And those materials, that interesting contrast between very opaque colours and the paper quality visible at the lower end. I'm drawn to how those broad, dark strokes sit right next to the clean, hard-edged color blocks. He doesn’t hide the hand in the making, does he? Curator: Not at all. Leslie, though involved with the dominant artistic circles, was deeply critical of what he saw as the commodification of Abstract Expressionism. He uses those raw marks to fight back. This piece questions notions of pure abstraction just as Pop Art was beginning its rise to prominence. Editor: So this tension wasn't just about aesthetics but also about art-world politics and where he stood? It almost feels like the materials themselves are enacting a kind of revolt against the polished gallery expectations of the time. Curator: Exactly! And notice the muted color palette. While pop art was exploding with bright, commercial colors, Leslie opts for these more somber tones. The printing process also holds social context in mind. He’s embracing methods of reproduction, and doing something unique by experimenting with his tools in this format. Editor: That subversion adds so much depth. Looking again, I’m getting a sense of struggle—between the gestural and the constructed, the personal and the mass-produced. It’s really stuck with me. Curator: A truly fitting observation. Thank you! I find that my understanding grows each time that I spend considering the social environment of the work in terms of museums, exhibitions and art journalism. Editor: Yes! This print challenges viewers, refusing easy categorization or comfortable consumption. Thanks, what a remarkable study in materiality!