Stage Proof 7 1972

Editor: Here we have Richard Hamilton's "Stage Proof 7." What strikes me is how the flat planes of color create a fragmented, almost cubist effect, even though the subject matter seems rooted in contemporary life. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a sophisticated manipulation of form. The hard-edged abstraction juxtaposed with recognizable figures invites us to consider the surface. Note how the palette, though limited, creates depth through value contrasts, pushing and pulling the composition. What effect does this interplay have on your perception? Editor: I think it makes the image feel both familiar and alienating, like a photograph seen through a distorted lens. I'm intrigued by how the hands obscure the faces. Curator: Precisely. The obscuration forces us to focus on the composition itself, the relationships between shapes and colors, rather than narrative content. Ultimately, the work encourages us to deconstruct our expectations of representation. Editor: That's a different way to look at it, and it really clarifies the artist's intent. Thanks! Curator: Indeed. Looking closely at its formal elements allows us to consider how Hamilton challenges conventional methods of depiction.