Chrysanthemums 1978

Editor: This is Bernard Myers's "Chrysanthemums." It's so yellow! It makes me wonder what the process of creating this print was like. What do you see in terms of materiality and the making of this artwork? Curator: Considering the printmaking process, how does the layering of color and texture impact our understanding of domesticity and the labor involved in creating this scene? Does it elevate or demystify the everyday? Editor: I suppose it demystifies it. Knowing that someone put labor and effort into each color layer and texture makes me think more about the labor that went into creating that kind of peaceful scene, too. Curator: Exactly. By focusing on the materials and the means of production, we shift our attention from just the aesthetic appeal to the social and economic context surrounding the artwork. Editor: That's a good point, I never considered the economic context before!