Grocery-wrapped Pears 1971

Curator: Editor: This artwork, “Grocery-wrapped Pears” by Janet Fish, from 1971, really catches the eye. I am especially struck by the translucence of the plastic wrap. It somehow elevates such an ordinary subject to a painterly spectacle. What are your initial thoughts? Curator: Fish's choice to represent pears, encased in the markers of mass production – plastic wrap and packaging – positions the artwork firmly within a materialist reading. The labour involved in the entire journey of these pears – from orchard to supermarket – is subtly acknowledged, isn't it? Consider the socio-economic context of the 1970s. How does the seemingly mundane subject matter engage with prevailing attitudes toward consumerism and mass production? Editor: It does seem like more than just a still life. The packaging adds another layer, maybe commenting on accessibility or artificiality. So, are you suggesting the art challenges that, maybe asking questions about what is traditionally considered 'worthy' of being represented? Curator: Precisely! By focusing on readily available, mass-produced items, Fish destabilizes hierarchies of value. She challenges notions that associate artistry solely with grand or inherently beautiful subjects. Notice the treatment of light across the surfaces of the pears and the plastic. What effect does that create? Editor: The play of light gives it a tactile quality. And in doing so, perhaps the mundane is made precious through her treatment. Does this choice of media -- pastels, gouache-- suggest something too? Curator: Good eye. Absolutely. The textures and blending create that effect. These materials, historically linked to preliminary studies or ‘lesser’ art forms, challenge our notions about which methods produce truly valuable artwork. In the light of consumerism, this becomes, as you suggest, a critique of material value. Editor: I’m definitely seeing that connection now. Thinking about the labor involved in producing both the object represented – pears prepped for market – and the image itself pushes me to think more broadly. Curator: Indeed, reflecting on the interplay between the artwork, labor, consumption and artistic creation expands our engagement.