Untitled (Blocks) c. 1930s

Editor: So, here we have Edward Hagedorn's "Untitled (Blocks)," an etching from the 1930s. It strikes me as quite ominous, almost claustrophobic, with these looming geometric shapes pressing down. What do you see in it? Curator: Ominous is a brilliant observation! I feel that, too. The sheer mass of the blocks, rendered with such stark lines, feels incredibly weighty, doesn’t it? And look closely...beneath them, a small group of figures struggle as if Atlas-like under that oppressive geometric load. Are they trapped or trying to escape, perhaps both? It makes you wonder what these "blocks" represent metaphorically? Are they societal structures? Personal burdens? The etching begs questions of power and fragility. Editor: That reading gives the shapes even more...oomph! I hadn’t considered them as symbols of oppression, more as abstract shapes. Is that why the artist went monochrome here? Curator: Precisely! Black and white removes the distraction of colour, allowing us to focus on the tonal values, the play of light and shadow that reinforces the sense of weight and confinement. What feelings did that constraint create for you when viewing this artwork? Editor: It felt like struggle. But now seeing these blocks almost like giant burdens is impactful. Curator: That, to me, is the beauty of art—it invites our projections, becoming a mirror reflecting our own anxieties and hopes. Thank you for seeing and sharing.