Assembling Parts 1917

Editor: Here we have C.R.W. Nevinson's "Assembling Parts." The intense cross-hatching makes the airplane factory feel cramped, almost feverish. What can you tell me about this work? Curator: Notice how Nevinson details the labor involved, focusing on the workers and their processes. The lithograph highlights the means of production, reducing the romanticism of flight to the materiality of its construction. Editor: So, instead of celebrating technological advancement, he's emphasizing the physical labor? Curator: Exactly. Nevinson directs our attention to the workers' bodies, making visible the often-unseen toil required for progress, blurring the lines between art and industry. Editor: That's a very different way of seeing it! I was focused on the plane itself. Curator: By looking at the material conditions and social context, we gain a deeper understanding of the artwork's message. Editor: I never thought about it that way. Thanks for the insight!