Caerphilly 1971

Curator: David Gentleman's "Caerphilly" presents a striking aerial view, almost like a blueprint, of the castle's layout. Editor: It feels incredibly clinical, detached. The stark white against the deep blue, the geometric precision... it's almost unsettling. Curator: Gentleman, born in 1930, often depicted British landmarks, and this print speaks to the historical significance of Caerphilly Castle, a symbol of Norman power in Wales. Editor: I'm more interested in how the image itself is constructed. It looks like a meticulously planned silkscreen print. All those layers, the registration, the inherent labor... Curator: The simplification of the castle into basic shapes invites us to consider the architecture as a product of its time, reflecting the militaristic strategies and social hierarchies. Editor: Precisely! It's about power, visualized through material and form, transformed into something easily reproducible, almost like a commodity. Curator: I see it as a respectful, though stylized, representation of a national monument. Editor: Perhaps, but it’s the industrialization of image-making that captures my attention here. Food for thought.