Drawing for "48" Standards" 1969 - 1972

Editor: Here we have Mel Bochner's "Drawing for '48' Standards'" from the Harvard Art Museums. It looks like simple rectangles, almost like wood samples, with measurements drawn on. What do you make of this, considering it's called a drawing? Curator: The materiality is key. Note the tension between the implied mass production suggested by the title and the handmade nature of the drawing itself. How does the work challenge traditional distinctions between industrial standards and artistic creation? Editor: I see what you mean. It's like he's highlighting the labor in making something appear "standard." I hadn't thought about that. Curator: Exactly! The act of drawing, of manually rendering these dimensions, emphasizes the human element often erased in standardized production. Editor: This really shifts my perspective on what I thought was a simple piece. Thanks! Curator: And I'm reminded of how deeply intertwined production and art are.