Cakes and Pies 1995

Curator: Wayne Thiebaud, born in 1920, presents us with "Cakes and Pies," a vibrant piece showcasing his signature style. What strikes you first about it? Editor: A sense of ordered excess, almost bordering on sterile. The colours are cheerful, yet there's a clinical precision in the arrangement. Curator: Indeed, the repetition and idealized forms of the pastries evoke the allure of consumerism. The pies and cakes become symbols of comfort and indulgence. Editor: Yet, who has access to that comfort? Does Thiebaud's choice to paint commonplace sweets, but elevate them to the status of fine art, hint at economic disparity? Curator: It could be. By presenting them in this stylized manner, he emphasizes their artificiality. The long shadows might suggest a kind of nostalgia or longing. Editor: Interesting. I see a critique of how we're often presented these idealized images, obscuring the labor and resources required to produce this abundance. Curator: It's a dialogue about pleasure and its potential pitfalls. These symbols are tied to celebration, community, and sometimes, societal pressure. Editor: Considering this painting, I'm left thinking about how often visual abundance hides deeper structural inequalities. Curator: And for me, the enduring power of symbols, and how they shape our desires and memories.