Slate and Smoke c. 1935 - 1943

Editor: Beatrice Mandelman's "Slate and Smoke," created between 1935 and 1943, is a print that depicts a rather somber landscape scene. The circular composition kind of traps you inside this moment of industrial life. What strikes you when you look at this piece? Curator: It feels like a memory, doesn't it? Something almost dreamlike. I think it evokes a certain mood of that era—the '30s and '40s were…complicated, to say the least. But I also sense a certain humanity in Mandelman's choice of perspective. Do you see how the worker crossing the tracks dominates the foreground? The rising smoke in the background, is it menacing, or somehow necessary, an assertion of progress, maybe? Editor: It could be both? He seems quite small though, in comparison to all of it. Does that have to do with the era? Curator: It certainly speaks to that time. Artists were grappling with industry, rural life, and human impact on the land, which becomes part of the story. I’m curious though, does the subdued palette make you think of documentary photography of that time? And how might that comparison change how we view "Slate and Smoke"? Editor: Good question! It adds a layer of…truth to it. But it's also an aesthetic choice. The values are what makes it impactful, no? Curator: Absolutely. It's the delicate balance between realism and something almost mythical. Do you get that sense too? It dances between capturing a specific moment and feeling universally true. Editor: Definitely, it has layers. I came in thinking one thing, but seeing the layers beyond…makes it stick with you. Curator: Yes, just like a distant train whistle in the night, resonating long after it's gone. Thanks for pointing that out, it really does create a stronger appreciation for the print.