Kneading Rubber 1935

Editor: Here we have Edward R. Burroughs' 1935 pen and ink drawing, "Kneading Rubber." It gives a rather stark and almost overwhelming impression of industrial labor, doesn't it? All those looming machines… What do you see in this piece, that I might be missing? Curator: I think you’re spot-on with ‘overwhelming.’ For me, it’s the artist's dance between realism and something bordering on oppressive machinery. Look how the figures seem almost consumed by the equipment. They're participants in this huge thing—do you feel the contrast of man and machine, small cogs against a giant wheel? Editor: Absolutely. The scale feels deliberately skewed to emphasize the worker’s vulnerability. I wonder, does the choice of stark ink add to this feeling of… intensity? Curator: It's almost Dickensian, isn't it? This grittiness really cements it. Imagine if this were rendered in pastels – wouldn't have the same punch, right? Editor: Definitely not! It really speaks to a certain experience of labor during that era. Thinking about the 1930s… the Great Depression... Do you see any intentional social commentary here? Curator: Now that’s where things get interesting. I’m drawn to the contrast. There’s the potential commentary but… is Burroughs also admiring the raw power of industry? It’s not a straightforward condemnation, which adds to its intrigue for me. Maybe he felt some sense of… ambivalence? Editor: I never thought of it that way, it almost adds a layer of… maybe pride or something else equally complicated and interesting. That's amazing, I will keep my eyes more open now, not jumping to simple assumptions. Curator: Exactly. It is never quite that obvious or clear, art invites exploration and open mind, something you and me did pretty well. I learned as well.