Painted canvas fragment c. 20th century

Editor: This is Barnett Newman's "Painted canvas fragment." The red is so intense, almost visceral. It's just a small piece. What might a materialist perspective tell us about it? Curator: Considering its status as a fragment shifts our focus. Was this material intended for something grander, then discarded? It highlights the materiality of painting, the canvas and pigment as commodities, and the labor involved in its potential creation. Editor: So, it’s less about the finished product and more about the process of making? Curator: Exactly. It prompts us to question the value we place on complete artworks versus the overlooked stages of production and potential waste, revealing socio-economic concerns within artistic practice. Editor: That gives me a whole new way to appreciate it!