Michael Craig-Martin 1972

Editor: Here we have Barry Flanagan's line drawing, "Michael Craig-Martin." It feels so simple, almost like a quick sketch. What strikes you about the process and materials used? Curator: It's intriguing how Flanagan uses such minimal means – likely etching – to portray Craig-Martin. The lines themselves become crucial; they are the product of labor, a physical act of mark-making. Editor: So, you see the value in the labor? Curator: Absolutely. The simplicity emphasizes the artist's hand and the decisions made in the process. It bridges the gap between "high art" portraiture and the raw materiality of its production. Editor: That’s a really different way of seeing it. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure. Hopefully that's helpful for your art history studies.