Couplets 1968

Editor: Here we have Sam Maitin's "Couplets" from the Tate collection. It’s a vibrant print filled with text and abstract figures. I’m struck by how the artist uses what looks like screen printing to combine the visual and textual. What do you see in how he combines these elements? Curator: The layering is key. Note how the process of screen printing allows Maitin to build up colors and textures. The textual elements aren't just content, they're integrated materially into the layers of production. How does that affect your understanding of the “couplets” he presents? Editor: I see how the words aren't just describing feelings, they're physically part of the artwork's construction. Curator: Exactly. Maitin’s work really pushes us to consider how the means of production shape the message itself, making the labor involved visible. Editor: This gives me a totally new way to look at printed works. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure!