Waiting 1955

Curator: This striking print, titled "Waiting," was created in 1955 by Calvin Burnett, an artist known for his social commentary and expressive style. It really captures a specific mood, don't you think? Editor: Absolutely. My first thought was "film noir." It’s all shadowy figures and that dramatic chiaroscuro. There's a tension, an unease...someone is definitely anticipating something big. I almost feel like there might be rain involved in this narrative! Curator: Yes, I agree. Thinking about the era, the 1950s, and Burnett's background, it is hard not to frame the feeling of waiting as linked to questions of racial equality and civil rights, especially since Burnett himself was part of the African American community. Waiting for justice, waiting for change. Editor: It makes perfect sense. I like how the artist seems to hint at things unseen and unheard. But just beyond this one guy are city lights that seem to pulse and hint at possibilities or some great change lurking just out of sight. That's beautiful. Curator: I also think that's the point. Considering theories of spectatorship and marginalization in postwar America— Editor: You make me think of that feeling when you're backstage, right? Waiting for your cue. Anticipation tinged with nervousness. Even when you can glimpse what’s happening in front of the curtain you can't be sure, you’re waiting for your turn, ready for transformation. Curator: Precisely. What is so arresting about the picture is that sense of impending change—whether personal, political or otherwise—is masterfully conveyed. And so it's interesting to consider it in relation to Frantz Fanon's work, focusing on the lived experience of colonialism and race. Waiting in the face of a racist structure takes on a whole new meaning in Burnett’s illustration. Editor: True, true. Okay, you've really got me thinking. It reminds me that the experience of "waiting" can also be active, maybe even revolutionary... the calm before the storm. What a stunning work. Curator: Absolutely, a potent meditation on time, change, and societal dynamics that remain ever so relevant even today. Editor: Thank you! That's such a great framework, this print invites a lot of interesting trains of thought!