Light and Shadow 1937

Editor: This is Franklin Carmichael's "Light and Shadow" from 1937, a landscape painting done en plein-air. I'm struck by how geometric and stylized the mountains are. What do you see in this piece, looking at its construction? Curator: The materials themselves tell a compelling story. Oil paint, commonly associated with fine art, applied outdoors, bridging that gap between "high" art and the experience of working directly within the environment. Notice the texture. What does it suggest about the labor involved in creating this image? Editor: I see thick layers of paint. Impasto, right? It looks like it was applied quickly, capturing a specific moment and feel, not necessarily a photorealistic representation. Was this typical of landscape painting at the time? Curator: Not necessarily, but it aligns with a broader trend of artists engaging with the industrialization of art materials and a re-evaluation of craftsmanship. Carmichael wasn’t just painting a landscape; he was engaging with a set of cultural expectations and market forces influencing how art was produced and consumed. Consider also that artists started travelling easier by trains at the time and transporting equipment to create plein-air paintings. How might this shift the narrative about the artist and the land itself? Editor: So, the means of production, like easier transportation and pre-made paint, affected the art itself, encouraging plein-air style? Curator: Exactly! By analyzing Carmichael's "Light and Shadow" through its materiality and production, we reveal a richer understanding of its context, which challenges us to move past only seeing the aesthetic values. Editor: I never considered the impact of those factors! Thinking about the paint itself as a product and its application as labour really changes how I see the artwork. Thank you. Curator: It was my pleasure! I hope you now also look at the painting knowing a bit more about its history and social relevance!