Venus 1964

Curator: Before us hangs "Venus", a 1964 etching by Sid Hammer. Editor: There’s a striking fragility to it. The form almost seems to emerge from the darkness, a hesitant presence. Curator: The hazy darkness you perceive really stems from the etching process. Think about the acid biting into the metal plate to create those textures. The tonal range suggests multiple bitings. We're witnessing a direct record of a physical and chemical interaction, labor, skill and material. Editor: That process definitely impacts the mood! Venus, traditionally a symbol of vibrant life and sensuality, here carries a certain weight, a somber beauty. It makes you wonder about Hammer's state of mind, and what he meant to communicate through such an iconic image. The faceless rendering and weighty figure almost challenges classical ideas of beauty. Curator: Perhaps a re-evaluation of ideals. We know Hammer worked consistently with printmaking and was also a commercial designer so one might consider his fine art production as a mode of freedom to explore content that wasn't necessarily lucrative, or consumerist. Editor: Or, a questioning of the goddess figure itself, even? Considering its date, the early 1960s, perhaps he aimed to depict her, stripped bare as the art of representation evolves under movements such as Modernism. The ambiguity leaves room for many interpretations; but you're right, it might all go back to just simply how the prints are made! Curator: Yes, the "how" informs the "why", doesn't it? Thinking about Hammer’s access to materials, the workspace, the labor required for each impression… It's a testament to the everyday process involved in producing what some may regard as a high art form, while to others an accessible artistic process. Editor: True. So even in its simplicity, this etching is rather a complex piece with various layers. Its symbolic impact stems from the combination of material manipulation and that iconic figure! Curator: Indeed, both in the materials, and also, the symbols deployed and altered, "Venus" offers a rich landscape for consideration. Editor: I leave with renewed questions of what art is or should be, thank you!