Hex c. 20th century

Curator: This is Karl Zerbe's "Hex." A striking, bold image, wouldn’t you agree? Editor: It really is. The figure seems almost confrontational, with that direct gaze and geometric form. How do you interpret the title, “Hex,” in relation to this image? Curator: The title, "Hex", invites us to consider the power dynamics at play. This work resonates with post-war anxieties about control and manipulation. What identities and social forces do you think Zerbe might be engaging with here? Editor: Perhaps the figure’s exaggerated features and stark lines represent a critique of societal expectations? Curator: Exactly! It’s a powerful statement about the pressures placed on individuals to conform. Considering Zerbe's history as a target of McCarthyism, this image perhaps expresses the experience of being targeted, watched. Editor: I never would have made that connection! Seeing it as a response to social pressures gives the piece so much more depth. Curator: Art invites us to see beyond the surface, to question the structures around us.