Study for Compositions No. 3 and No. 4 (Leaving the Factory) 1917

Editor: So, this is Bart van der Leck's "Study for Compositions No. 3 and No. 4 (Leaving the Factory)," held at the Tate. It's a large drawing and it seems to depict workers leaving a factory. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Well, I immediately see the starkness of the material. Pencil on paper, a direct and unpretentious medium, reflecting the realities of industrial labor it depicts. It seems to be a study; how does its unfinished quality comment on the finality of labor itself? Editor: That’s a great point! The sketch-like nature certainly makes me think about process. Curator: Exactly. Consider also the size. At almost a meter wide, it's monumental for a drawing. Was van der Leck elevating the status of labor through the scale of the piece? Editor: I never thought of it that way. I was caught up in the figures, but the medium and size completely change my perception. Curator: Indeed. It makes us question the value we place on art versus labor, doesn't it? Editor: It definitely does. Thanks for pointing that out!