Hex 1981

Editor: This etching, "Hex" by Stanley William Hayter, presents a network of sharp lines and shaded forms. The materiality of the printmaking process feels really present. What can you tell me about the making of this piece? Curator: This print pushes the boundaries between art and craft. Consider Hayter's conscious manipulation of the metal plate. How does his labor, his physical engagement with the material, inform the final composition? Editor: So, you're saying the visible process is the point? Curator: Exactly. We see the traces of the tools, the decisions made during production. The lines aren't just aesthetic; they embody the act of creation. Do you think that challenges traditional notions of artistic skill? Editor: I think I do see that, how Hayter's hands-on approach democratizes the art form. Curator: Precisely. It shifts the focus from the final product to the means of production. Editor: I'll definitely look at prints differently now, thinking about the physical process.