La Chapelle St Robert, Dordogne 1968

Editor: So, this is John Piper's "La Chapelle St Robert, Dordogne," housed at the Tate. It looks like a watercolor print. The weathered stone texture is really striking. What catches your eye in terms of the materiality of the work? Curator: I'm drawn to the process: the printmaking itself and how it relates to mass consumption of images. Notice the layering of colours, possibly a lithographic technique, mimicking the degradation and wear on the chapel itself. How does this play with notions of authenticity and value? Editor: That’s a great question. I hadn't considered the printmaking process as a reflection of the subject's decay, that definitely changes my perspective. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure!