Spotted Deer c. 1935

Curator: The work before us, "Spotted Deer" by W.E. Hentschel, made around 1935, immediately grabs the eye with its stylized geometric form. Editor: It's unexpectedly calm, isn't it? The soft pastel hues are gentle, even soothing. I wouldn't have guessed that date; it feels strikingly contemporary in its color palette and the simple composition of those layered shapes. Curator: Absolutely. Hentschel used pastels to achieve this effect, a medium often associated with craft rather than what we historically consider fine art. And that is what makes it appealing. It begs the question: what possibilities did the pastel offer Hentschel? Could he subvert established hierarchies of materials? Editor: Thinking about "craft" leads me down another avenue. There is also a dialogue between art history and gender in this image. Did the availability of particular materials play into which genres or mediums women artists may have excelled in, at this time? Were pastels seen as an acceptable "feminine" choice? It's a fascinating lens to examine the image. Curator: An important connection to be made, without a doubt. Considering the larger art ecosystem of the 1930s, pastels might be regarded for mass production of art prints. The application and dissemination become easier, more profitable. What effect does it have when viewing mass consumption through gender or class, if the labor can be exploited at different societal echelons? Editor: Exactly, by unpacking those assumptions about material and availability, we’re nudging at a whole web of social and economic issues reflected, perhaps unintentionally, in this rather beautiful image. It appears this image invites both joy and complex analysis, coexisting peacefully! Curator: An interesting piece of work in pastels. It raises vital discussions about process and hierarchy in art history, all sparked by this one delightful print. Editor: Indeed, "Spotted Deer" has a deceptively gentle façade, but it's full of ideas that demand more from our relationship to art history and its many untold stories.