The Plough and the Song 1947

Editor: Here we have Arshile Gorky's "The Plough and the Song" from 1947, a watercolor piece that's got this soft, dreamlike quality. It feels almost like looking at a memory. What symbols do you see playing out here? Curator: Well, consider the title – “The Plough and the Song.” Immediately, we have the earthy, grounded imagery of labor meeting the ethereal, perhaps spiritual, essence of music. Gorky often layered personal and cultural symbols, creating a visual language uniquely his own. Look at the ambiguous forms, they evoke organic life, yet resist clear identification. What might these fluid shapes suggest to you in relation to that dichotomy in the title? Editor: I see how the shapes seem biomorphic. Maybe the "plough" is represented by those darker, grounded forms and the song...perhaps the lighter washes and open lines suggesting freedom? Curator: Precisely! And think about Gorky's personal history – his Armenian heritage, the trauma of the genocide, and his family’s connection to the land. These weren't just abstract shapes; they held echoes of cultural memory. The plough, not merely an agricultural tool, could represent resilience and the struggle for survival. While the song might allude to hope and artistic expression, a kind of spiritual grounding amidst turmoil. Do you think the muted colours amplify the emotional weight of this work? Editor: Definitely, if the palette were brighter, it would change the tone entirely! Now I see how those initial feelings I had might relate to all those deeper symbolic connections you just mentioned. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure! I think considering the symbolism makes abstract art more approachable.