Mr. and Mrs. Joseph H. Hirshhorn 1966

Editor: Here we have Alexander Calder’s 1966 piece, "Mr. and Mrs. Joseph H. Hirshhorn," rendered in mixed media. The stark black and white palette, combined with the somewhat grotesque caricatures, creates a rather unsettling celebratory mood. What strikes you about this work? Curator: It's interesting to consider Calder, known for his playful mobiles, engaging in portraiture using what appears to be almost industrial application of bold paint. How does the materiality, the directness of the black ink on presumably mass-produced paper, shape our understanding of the Hirshhorns' wealth and their place within a culture of consumption? Does this simplified rendering elevate or diminish their status? Editor: That's a compelling point. I was initially focused on the artistic choices, but the industrial quality and the use of commonplace materials complicates my interpretation. Curator: Exactly. And what about the bird, rendered in a rare spot of bright red? Does this suggest an element of mass-produced ornamentation intruding upon their private celebration? How does it contribute to a critique of their class, or their individual sensibilities as consumers? Editor: I hadn't thought of the bird as a commentary on consumption! It’s now giving me a completely new perspective, almost as if to highlight the constructed, manufactured nature of their social lives. Curator: Precisely. We tend to see art in terms of intention, but we can appreciate how even celebratory portraiture implicates the social dynamics of class, labor, and even distribution of goods. Editor: So, thinking about the work through materials and context gives us a new way to read the symbolism and technique. I learned a lot, thank you! Curator: A great perspective that hopefully provides everyone with more ways to explore the rich landscape of visual creation and social context.