Black and White Cocks c. 20th century

Curator: Bernard Reder's intaglio print, “Black and White Cocks,” presents us with a stark, textured tableau. What's your initial read? Editor: It feels a bit like a fever dream—the birds are so angular, almost skeletal, and that ghostly figure... haunting. The tonal contrasts really amplify the unease, don’t they? Curator: Indeed. The composition relies heavily on the interplay of positive and negative space, creating a dynamic tension between the forms. Note the strategic use of hatching and cross-hatching to build depth. Editor: It’s almost as if Reder is dissecting the idea of masculinity, exposing its vulnerability through these strange, almost grotesque birds. Is that too much of a stretch? Curator: The imagery certainly lends itself to multiple interpretations. The angularity of the forms hints at a Cubist influence, disrupting traditional representational modes. Editor: I'm left with this lingering sense of something primal, something broken, but also strangely beautiful in its raw intensity. Curator: A fitting encapsulation. Reder's print invites a layered engagement, rewarding careful consideration of its formal elements and thematic resonances. Editor: It’s a piece that stays with you, poking around in the subconscious. A bit unnerving, but undeniably powerful.