Dawn 1973 - 1975

Editor: This is "Dawn" by Frances Richards. It's hard to date exactly, but it's in the Tate collection. The olive green tones create such a tranquil mood. What strikes you about this image? Curator: Well, let's consider the materials. It appears to be a print, perhaps a lithograph. The texture suggests the artist meticulously worked to transfer the image. What sort of labor do you think went into creating this? Editor: I imagine it took quite a bit of skill to achieve that even tone across the flat planes of color. Curator: Exactly. And the choice of a print – a medium often seen as 'lesser' than painting – challenges the hierarchy within art itself, emphasizing the process of reproduction and accessibility. How does that impact your reading of the work? Editor: It makes me think about who this artwork was for and how many copies might exist. Thanks, I hadn't considered that. Curator: Indeed, materiality informs meaning.