2 1973

Curator: Richard Smith's artwork, simply titled "2," presents an intriguing study in layering and form, doesn't it? Editor: It does. The overlaid grid creates such a muted tension across the underpainting, almost like a veiled emotion. Curator: Smith was really pushing against the conventions of painting here. You see how he's actually stitched through the canvas? It's almost a deconstruction, forcing us to confront the physical construction. Editor: The stitches really ground the piece, offering a stark contrast to the diffuse washes of color. They highlight the materiality of the support. Curator: I think it’s a deliberate choice to emphasize the labor involved, a reaction to the mass production dominating the art world at the time. Editor: Perhaps. But formally, it also creates a fascinating dialogue between the grid's imposed order and the underlying chaos. The composition is almost musical. Curator: Well, seeing it that way gives me a new way to consider Smith's intention. Editor: Precisely. And now I see it a bit differently, too.