Women Carrying Wood 

Curator: Looking at Maggie Laubser's "Women Carrying Wood," an oil painting, the vivid colors and flattened perspective definitely remind us of Fauvist principles. It evokes a specific atmosphere, almost intentionally naive. What strikes you first about this piece? Editor: The landscape's simplified shapes are appealing. The rhythmic repetition of the women against the bright beach gives a clear sense of everyday labor, yet, there is some anonymity in it as we don't see the subject's faces. How might socio-political context of South Africa shape the image? Curator: Laubser, although exposed to European Modernism, returned to South Africa and portrayed rural life and labour. Consider the early 20th century South Africa when it was made. What kind of roles and visibility did women have in that time and social context? Do you think she's celebrating them, or is there something else going on? Editor: It feels celebratory, showing women actively contributing. The simplified forms might also emphasize a shared identity rooted in their labor. Is it typical for the time? Curator: That's a crucial question. This "naiveté" allowed her work to be interpreted in various ways at the time. How do you think contemporary viewers would read it in comparison? Editor: I would guess they would want to know if it is an exploitative narrative? In 2024 there might be more questioning of the gaze in art. Curator: Exactly. Considering the institutional context and her position as a white artist depicting Black labor, ethical questions inevitably surface today, transforming the meaning compared to its time. Editor: That's a great point! Thanks! It definitely shifts how I see this work now. Curator: Yes, seeing it shifts based on the viewer, the moment, and the dialogue.