Ram 1978

Editor: Julian Trevelyan's "Ram," an undated print in the Tate collection, presents these bold, graphic sheep against a textured background. The process seems very present. What stands out to you about it? Curator: Consider the tools involved. Trevelyan likely used acid to etch the image onto a metal plate. The stark contrast emphasizes the physical act of creation, almost a record of labor, turning a pastoral scene into a study of materiality and the means of its production. Editor: So you're saying the artmaking process itself is a key part of the work's message? It makes you think about labor? Curator: Precisely. The printmaking medium itself becomes a commentary on mass production and access to art, challenging conventional notions of artistic value. Editor: That's a perspective I hadn't considered. Thanks!