Desplaines River c. 1935 - 1943

Curator: Immediately, it's the drama of that sky that grabs me! Like some pent-up force ready to break. What about you? Editor: Agreed! There's a moody, almost foreboding quality, right? That turbulent sky mirrored in the water… I see isolation and industrial grit. I think it's one of those images that hints at unspoken narratives. Curator: It's a graphite print entitled "Desplaines River" by Hubert Davis, dating from about 1935 to 1943. The location itself speaks volumes, doesn't it? Editor: Absolutely, it's where the natural world bumps up against industry...a common story playing out. Tell me, does the imagery, with its strong verticals of the bridge and those dynamic horizontal clouds, hold symbolic weight for you? Curator: Inevitably! The bridge is like an imposed structure… a pathway, sure, but also a visual assertion of human control over the water. Meanwhile, the clouds convey change and unpredictability. The river— traditionally, in art, associated with journeys, the flow of time, borders—all under this ominous sky... Davis clearly sets the scene for change or challenges ahead. Editor: That resonates deeply. I wonder if the artist was also trying to reflect the sense of a world between two things—between nature and industry, between hope and something…darker? Maybe the reflection of that massive cloud is our future. Curator: It invites that interpretation! Davis employs such a striking realism, while allowing so much emotional tension to subtly seep through. It really leaves room for our personal associations with rivers as sites of movement and cultural crossings. Editor: It’s funny, I see so much movement and foreboding, and at the same time, it makes me want to stand by that water, and just breathe it all in! There’s something incredibly peaceful and raw about the piece. Curator: It’s definitely not just a picturesque cityscape; Davis’ “Desplaines River” taps into deeper currents. Editor: So true! A powerful conversation starter about who we are.