Vertical Development 1974

Editor: This is "Vertical Development" by Victor Pasmore. It seems to be an etching, and what strikes me are the contrasting textures and the way the image balances abstraction with something almost representational. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a direct engagement with the materiality of printmaking. The textures, achieved through the etching process, highlight the artist's labor. The interplay between the controlled lines and the more gestural marks challenges the traditional hierarchy between meticulous craft and spontaneous expression. How does this relate to broader social or economic structures? Editor: So, you're saying it blurs the lines between different kinds of artistic production? Curator: Precisely. It invites us to consider the value we place on different forms of making, and how these valuations are shaped by cultural and economic forces. Perhaps Pasmore is commenting on the changing role of the artist in a post-industrial society? Editor: I hadn't considered that angle. It’s fascinating to think about the labor involved in creating something that appears so simple. Curator: Exactly. It encourages us to look beyond the surface and consider the means of production.