Aerial Commerce 1930

Curator: Looking at John MacGilchrist’s print, "Aerial Commerce" from 1930, my initial impression is one of dynamic instability. The skewed perspective makes the skyscrapers seem precarious. What do you think? Editor: That feeling of unease resonates. I’d situate this print within the broader context of the 1930s. There's the obvious nod to technological advancement, but underneath, there’s anxiety, I think, echoing the Depression and the build-up to war. These aerial machines, these skyscrapers--they speak to aspirations, but also a potential for collapse. Curator: Absolutely. The composition is compelling. MacGilchrist plays with scale, juxtaposing the almost dreamlike quality of the airship with the comparatively smaller, almost toy-like airplanes around it. And that stark geometry against a subtly shaded sky… Editor: Precisely. This artwork acts as a fascinating visual document of a society caught between utopic ideals about modernity and deep-seated economic and social anxieties. How did people at the time perceive the changing face of American cities and technological change, and how are their understandings influencing the creation of artwork such as “Aerial Commerce?” I’m intrigued by the way the aerial vehicles command the imagery’s focal point. Curator: It’s also the very specific anxieties of this time regarding labor. One could say the title "Aerial Commerce" serves as a nod to those themes through themes of industrial production and capitalist enterprise during the machine age, and also a broader critique of the human condition during that time period. Editor: It certainly prompts that type of discussion. For me, this artwork stands as a reminder to scrutinize the complex web of factors impacting an artist and their oeuvre. Curator: It is. Thinking about MacGilchrist’s work, I find myself appreciating its delicate interplay between progress and apprehension. Editor: For me, understanding "Aerial Commerce" and its cultural implications provides insight into our own relationships with urban landscapes and contemporary forms of transportation.