Planche d'études (Sketch Plate) 1929 - 1932

Editor: So, here we have Stanley William Hayter’s "Planche d'Études," or "Sketch Plate," created sometime between 1929 and 1932. It's an etching, primarily line work, and what strikes me is how dreamlike it feels, like half-formed thoughts swirling on the page. I am really interested in unpacking this! What do you make of this piece? Curator: Ah, yes, Hayter! Looking at this piece feels like peeking into the artist's subconscious, doesn’t it? The jumble of hands, horses, almost calligraphic forms...it's a world caught in flux, where one thing morphs into another. I'd even venture to call it "organized chaos." What do you think? Do you find a rhythm amidst the seemingly disparate images? Editor: That’s a wonderful expression. I love 'organized chaos'! You are totally right – there’s a playful back and forth across the plate with shapes echoed and varied… Almost like Hayter’s hand, quite literally, searching for form. I'm intrigued by the repeated motif of hands, the lines seeming to express them feeling out ideas on the page. Curator: Precisely! The hand is a powerful symbol here - the artist's hand, the tool of creation, actively probing, sketching, finding its way. I feel it points to the core of Hayter’s creative practice itself. He was fascinated by automatism and the spontaneous gesture, very connected with Surrealism... And consider too how this plate almost predates Abstract Expressionism in a way, with its emphasis on gesture. Does that perspective give you new appreciation? Editor: It does. Hearing you contextualize it that way…seeing how he anticipates future movements… it really makes it come alive. Thank you so much for these amazing thoughts. Curator: And thank you for sharing your insightful observations! It’s through this dialogue that these quiet, fascinating pieces continue to speak to us, across generations.