Ready-Aim and Two Hands 1970

Curator: Larry Rivers’s print, titled "Ready-Aim and Two Hands," strikes me immediately with its fragmented, almost jarring composition. Editor: Yeah, it's got this off-kilter energy, right? Like a half-remembered dream with a bit of dread mixed in. Curator: Indeed. Rivers, known for his irreverent approach, seems to be exploring themes of power, perspective, and perhaps even the male gaze through the imagery of the gun. The repetition, the hand-drawn quality, and the bold colors push us to consider the layers of representation. Editor: The colors are wild! It's like he's saying, "Hey, guns are serious, but art doesn't have to be!" I also love the contrast between the cool detachment of the hand holding the gun and, well, our own eye staring right down the barrel. Curator: It speaks to the complexities of American masculinity, its performance and its potential for violence. Editor: Absolutely. Makes you think, doesn’t it? Curator: It does. It's a piece that demands attention and interpretation. Editor: A visual punch in the gut, maybe? But a thoughtful one, for sure.