Tugboat 

Editor: Here we have a print titled "Tugboat" by Gan Kolski. It looks like a linocut or similar graphic art technique, showing a stylized cityscape dominated by a bridge. I’m struck by the almost oppressive feeling of the architecture looming over the tiny tugboat. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a powerful statement about modernity, particularly as it relates to power dynamics and labor. Notice how the monumental bridge, a symbol of progress and connection, dwarfs the tugboat. What labor is required to support the imposing architecture, both physical labor in its original construction, and invisible labor to continue operating it. Who profits? Editor: That’s interesting; I was mainly thinking about the visual composition. The bridge definitely commands the space, almost like a barrier. Curator: Exactly! Think about the historical context. This piece likely emerges from the interwar period, a time of rapid industrialization and growing social inequality. The tugboat, a working vessel, becomes a symbol for the individual struggling against these monumental forces. Where might one imagine the tugboat going? Where would it not be allowed? Editor: I hadn't considered that at all. It's easy to just see it as a quaint little boat. So, you're saying the artist might be commenting on the individual’s place in a rapidly changing, industrial world? Curator: Precisely. And the stark black and white of the linocut enhances this sense of contrast and tension. It emphasizes the monumental nature of the architecture and the vulnerability of the vessel in the foreground. Consider the visual language - is this work in praise of architecture, or a commentary? Editor: I see what you mean. Looking at it again, the rigid lines and shadows almost feel…unforgiving. This has really shifted my perspective. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure! It is so easy to celebrate works like this purely for their aesthetics, but there's usually more to the story.