Golden Lambs 1977

Curator: Instantly, I'm transported to a childhood farm, a misty morning… Do you feel that nostalgic gentleness? Editor: This is Piroska Szanto's "Golden Lambs," created in 1977, a mesmerizing ink and watercolor piece. It definitely carries an aura; I wonder about Szanto's relationship to agricultural landscapes. Curator: Ah, that watercolor wash creates a sort of dreamscape. It's intriguing how the ink outlines seem to simultaneously define and dissolve the forms, making the lambs both present and ethereal. Editor: Absolutely, look at how she contrasts the flowing wash with distinct line work! We should think about what kind of paper supported these ink and watercolor gestures. How might the absorbency or lack thereof determine Szanto’s hand movements in building up these creatures? Curator: Beautiful point. And the monochromatic palette! Restricting her range allows her to focus on texture. Those swirling lines inside the forms–do you feel that playful, almost baroque flourish? Editor: Playful yes, and consider how each head nearly blends, creating a shared woolly surface. I keep returning to what breeds these lambs were. It strikes me that some, specifically woolly commodities would come in shades other than gold, depending on dyeing, weathering, and species practices. Curator: A somber counterpoint, but an important reminder that even the most gentle images carry the weight of the world. You know, seeing these lines again makes me think she loved creating repetitive forms to almost conjure that sensation when lambs are in masses. The overall effect evokes simplicity, humility. Editor: And her labor. There's a tension here between the swiftness of her mark making and what I imagine was careful attention to her materials. "Golden Lambs" encapsulates this intersection between pastoral romanticism and a quiet consideration of manual processes and production in making images of those lambs. Curator: Right. Perhaps it asks us to remember both the gentle heart and the skillful hand, the world observed and the world created. Editor: A reminder that art resides in that balance.