Studieblad med kubistisk komposition 1916 - 1919

Editor: So this is Vilhelm Lundstrom's "Studieblad med kubistisk komposition," made between 1916 and 1919 using pencil and watercolor. It's a fascinating piece, a drawing with these soft washes of color forming abstract shapes... What strikes me most is the sparseness. How should we interpret it? Curator: What appears sparse to modern eyes may have been densely symbolic in its time. Look closely; can you see how geometric forms create echoes of objects – perhaps a vase, maybe even fragmented figures? Editor: I see those shapes. It feels almost like looking for figures in clouds… Is that what you mean by echoes? Curator: Exactly. Think about the psychological weight of fragmentation during and after World War One. Cubism wasn't just about breaking down forms; it was mirroring a broken world. The choice of muted watercolors, rather than bold oils, also speaks volumes. What do these lighter hues communicate? Editor: A sense of fragility? Impermanence? As though these forms might dissolve any moment. Curator: Precisely. Lundstrom uses the symbolic language of Cubism, and subverts traditional mediums, embedding trauma and memory in these seemingly simple shapes. These echoes allow for cultural memory. How does that change your initial read of the work? Editor: It deepens it. It's no longer just a formal exercise, but a meditation on loss and a visual reflection of collective anxiety. Curator: Indeed, and understanding this symbolic language enriches our viewing experience beyond aesthetics. We learn something about our past, ourselves and collective cultural experiences. Editor: That’s incredible; thank you for sharing those perspectives. It really brings a new layer of understanding to this work.