The Cinnamon Bun B'Ar Stalking the Dish of Fruit Bush c. 1922

Curator: This piece, titled "The Cinnamon Bun B'Ar Stalking the Dish of Fruit Bush," was crafted around 1922 using drawing and acrylic paint, a unique combination. What's your immediate response to it? Editor: A rather playful abstraction! It gives off this cheerful, slightly off-kilter vibe, like a children's book illustration gone rogue, yet strangely compelling. The shapes are so simple, but together they dance. Curator: Indeed! Steichen’s exploration here delves into the reduction of form. We see geometric shapes rendered in pastel hues to represent—perhaps—a creature eyeing its snack. Let's not overlook his materials; the dual use of traditional drawing alongside early acrylic paints would have given it an almost manufactured finish. Editor: It's like a code, isn’t it? Steichen is giving us breadcrumbs, both literally and artistically! Those geometric shapes...is that bird or some angular fantasy creature? I almost want to touch the painting; acrylic often tempts you to feel its surface. Curator: Exactly, Edward Steichen experiments with the emerging visual language of cubism, offering it, diluted somewhat and domesticated, to American tastes. I want you to notice his composition more broadly too; observe his deliberate selection of color alongside lines. Editor: It’s an eye-spy game with shapes! A feast for the eyes made out of triangles and orbs on what seem like fruits—a sort of flattened-out still life? The texture seems deliberate in its flatness; quite different compared to say, his previous works. Curator: It's crucial to understand how Steichen positions "craft" with this piece and painting versus "fine art". Where might such an image fit into an American context concerning artistic production? Was he commenting on something? Editor: The 'fruit bush', of course. The idea is cute enough, but perhaps his work gently critiques the way we package nature into neat domestic presentations. Still, this little world holds the promise of play; the picture itself could inspire kids everywhere. Curator: That offers a vital perspective. Considering how the piece challenges typical aesthetic boundaries is very relevant to assessing his production methodology and place as a progressive American artist. Editor: Absolutely! It’s playful and profound all at once, and somehow that simplicity is still inviting for further meditation! A delightful discovery to which viewers can attribute new forms on each visitation, thanks!