La Guerra II 1980

Editor: This is Robert Motherwell’s “La Guerra II,” a striking black and white lithograph. The bold strokes and splatters feel very visceral. What do you see in the material choices and how they might relate to the title, "The War?" Curator: The stark contrast of black ink, its application through lithography--a process of reproduction--against the white paper speaks volumes about production and consumption. The materiality echoes the visual language of newsprint, think of war photography, disseminated widely. Editor: So, the means of making art are as important as the image itself? Curator: Precisely. Motherwell isn't just depicting war; he's implicating the viewer in its consumption. The mass-produced image becomes a commodity, desensitizing us to its horrors. This highlights the social context and challenges our perception. Editor: That’s given me a whole new perspective! Thank you. Curator: My pleasure. Considering art through its material and social life truly enriches our understanding.