Rember’s Paint 

Curator: Well, this strikes me as a fascinating moment suspended in time, Edwin Georgi's piece titled "Rember's Paint." I see…youthful hesitation, maybe? Editor: Hesitation, yes, but also, I'd say, studied idyll. There's something about the pose that suggests not just relaxation, but a performance of it. Like an ad, an advertisement. I bet they want to go swimming... the male looks at her longingly. Curator: A performance, interesting. The image reads differently now that you mention it, like some sort of ritual of early courtship set amidst post-war prosperity? The bright colors definitely resonate with that sort of period, like a commercial break between reels at the cinema! Editor: Absolutely! The social construction of leisure and romance at work. Consider the pose -- she is carefully angled, displaying just enough but withholding a great deal more; she has bare feet, showing she might take her fill, as the man seems so intent she should. Curator: Those tartan shorts speak volumes! It could even be that these are specifically placed there... but also they are clearly in a position of power and the gentleman has no hope other than the gaze, she could dunk her toes forever and he is forced to simply look and like a 'nice boy' wait, with no indication that he should wait! There is an ambiguity with the bare feet too, almost suggesting this painting's subjects exist as more symbolic components of a wider cultural narrative regarding ideal past-times... something is troubling and unsettling at this painting, despite the attractive subjects! Editor: The cultural memory here is potent, with pre-coded gestures and implied dramas which is quite powerful... this work speaks a clear visual language that hints toward broader conversations around gender roles of the mid twentieth century in particular; like how in the world did it get accepted at the museum?!?! A really remarkable study! Curator: I agree entirely! Editor: It really causes us to rethink so many common perceptions around art and imagery! I never could have imagined the hidden levels in "Rember's Paint"... It has left me questioning my reading of similar images in this genre forever, so thank you to us all for going this far together.