Brice Marden 1986

Editor: This is Robert Mapplethorpe’s photograph of Brice Marden. It’s striking how Marden’s paint-splattered clothing mirrors the gestures in the painting behind him. What can you tell me about this work? Curator: Note the materiality of Mapplethorpe's work. The photo itself is an object produced through a specific process. How does the image, as a commodity, relate to the art world Marden inhabits? Editor: So, you’re thinking about how the photograph itself becomes part of that artistic exchange? Curator: Precisely. It's about the labor of creation, the exchange of artistic capital, and the eventual consumption of these objects. Food for thought, eh? Editor: That does give me a lot to consider about the art world and this photo. Thank you!