Seven Critics 1970

Juan Downey created this etching, entitled "Seven Critics," seemingly in the 1980's. It reflects a moment of institutional critique within the art world, and a questioning of the critic's role. Downey lays bare the power dynamics inherent in art criticism, probing the critics about who has more power over museums: artists or critics? The format of the piece, resembling a questionnaire, invites us to consider the responses of these figures. He asks them who they think of while writing about art, whether they studied art, and if they feel their writing affects the art market. One wonders if this artwork is about the artist attempting to destabilize the traditional relationship between the artist and critic. It's a fascinating insight into the anxieties and self-awareness circulating within the art world at the time. I'm intrigued by the personal and ethical questions Downey poses, turning the critical lens back onto those who shape artistic discourse.