12. ‘And with my eyes bolting toward the unconscious’ 1973

Editor: This is Patrick Caulfield’s ‘12. ‘And with my eyes bolting toward the unconscious’ from the Tate collection. It's strikingly simple, mostly black with these two blue rectangles. It almost feels like a dark doorway. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The starkness directs us to the physical properties of the print itself. Consider the labor involved in creating these flat, uniform planes of color. How does the process of screen printing, likely used here, democratize art production? Editor: Democratize? How so? Curator: Screen printing allows for multiple, relatively inexpensive reproductions, challenging the idea of the unique, precious art object. Caulfield's use of this method questions traditional hierarchies within the art world. It emphasizes accessibility and the social context of art consumption. Editor: That's a great point! I hadn't considered how the means of production influence our perception. Curator: Exactly! It really makes you think about the value we assign to art based on its materials and how it's made.