Two Separate Sketches for Whole Composition, Pony at Centre c. 1958

Editor: This is Josef Herman's "Two Separate Sketches for Whole Composition, Pony at Centre," a striking ink drawing. The rapid strokes convey a sense of immediacy. What do you see in this piece regarding its material context? Curator: The stark use of ink and paper points to a specific economy of means. Consider the accessibility of these materials compared to, say, oil paints and canvas. How does this choice reflect Herman's artistic practice and perhaps his relationship to working-class subjects? Editor: That's interesting. So the material itself could be linked to a certain social consciousness? Curator: Precisely. The directness of ink lends itself to capturing fleeting moments and perhaps a raw, unvarnished view of labor and life. It makes you wonder what the artist intends to be the final piece, or if the value is in the process? Editor: Thanks for your perspective; it really shifts how I see the work.