Study of Cakes c. 1965

Editor: Here we have Wayne Thiebaud's "Study of Cakes," created around 1965. The contrasting monochrome gives a bold statement. I'm immediately struck by the simplicity of it, like something from a graphic novel. The brushstrokes look swift and sure, creating a balance of light and shadow on those sweet treats. What jumps out at you? Curator: It’s interesting you mention a graphic novel. To me, these cakes are characters themselves, frozen in a narrative that only Thiebaud can tell. Think about it – what are these cakes *doing*? Are they waiting for a party? Are they silently judging us? They're not hyperrealistic, are they? Instead, there’s something almost theatrical about their arrangement and rendering in monochrome, isn't there? Do you feel any whimsy or melancholy in those black-and-white decisions? Editor: I can definitely see the whimsy – they almost look like fondant models of real cakes! Melancholy is not so evident but your insights are helping me look beneath the initial superficial viewing. I never would have looked so closely otherwise, perhaps writing it off too quickly because of the reduced palette and basic still life set-up. Curator: Precisely! And remember, Thiebaud wasn’t merely interested in the cakes themselves. For me he seems to be pondering ideas about mass production, consumer culture, and memory… these themes run beneath a joyful veneer. They echo in our experiences; do these "cakes" bring you some memories from your past? Editor: That’s true… it makes me think about a time when birthday cakes weren't pre-packaged, and came only in white or chocolate. This study makes a nostalgic yet cutting cultural commentary! Curator: Exactly. Art offers us such invitations to consider! I think it reminds us all to be a little less like sheep sometimes... Editor: Totally! Looking at this work has definitely expanded my thinking around seemingly simple art. Thanks so much.