Around the Cake 1962

Editor: This is "Around the Cake," an oil painting from 1962 by Wayne Thiebaud. The thick impasto really stands out, almost making me want to reach out and touch it. The scene looks so simple, a collection of cakes, but what strikes me most is that while everything looks delectable, something about the arrangement also feels mass-produced, somehow artificial. What’s your take on this, looking at it from an art historical context? Curator: Right. Think about the societal shift in post-war America. The rise of consumer culture... What do you see here in terms of the material? Consider not only the painting, but what's depicted within the frame. Editor: So you’re focusing on the actual "stuff," like, the physical painting but also the way the cakes are presented like commodities? It’s kind of gross and beautiful at the same time… The brushstrokes, while individual, collectively create this mass-produced feel. Like even the art supplies are manipulated. Curator: Precisely. Look at the repetition, the slightly-off coloring in the icing. Thiebaud is dealing with paint as a physical commodity and exploring its application. Are these individually crafted cakes or factory productions? Consider how that distinction dissolves under the hand, and brush, of Thiebaud. The context shifts our interpretation completely. What if this were charcoal, or plaster, rather than thick layers of luscious paint? Editor: I guess it comes down to challenging the expectation that 'art' is above commerce or everyday materials. I never would have thought of the labor involved in actually making this or of the cultural critique. I mean, I see cake! But looking at the brushstrokes themselves, that repetition – that’s work too. I never considered the work aspect, before. Curator: Good, good. So, has your perspective changed, from initially seeing 'delicious cake?' Editor: Definitely. It's not just about liking the picture or wanting to eat it. It's about unpacking layers of cultural influence, artistic choices and labor involved that transforms our initial view.