Untitled 1974

Editor: We’re looking at Susan Rothenberg's "Untitled," created in 1974 using oil paint. What strikes me most is the muted color palette and the ghostly image of a horse that seems to emerge from the background. How do you interpret this work? Curator: I see Rothenberg engaging with feminist critiques of art history that privileged male experiences and perspectives. The horse, often a symbol of power and masculinity, is rendered here in a deliberately muted, almost obscured manner. It challenges the traditional heroic depiction of the animal, doesn't it? How do you see the color playing a role? Editor: Well, the monochromatic palette softens the image, almost dematerializing the horse, making it less about imposing power and more about vulnerability, maybe? Curator: Exactly. This vulnerability resonates with the feminist movement's interrogation of patriarchal structures. Rothenberg’s artistic choice transforms this conventional symbol of power into an introspective exploration of form, identity, and the artistic process itself. Think about how the line becomes both boundary and connection. Where does the horse end, and the ground begin? How does the image function within art history and modernism? Editor: It’s like she's reclaiming the horse as a symbol and questioning its inherent associations with dominance, which seems very relevant considering the political and social shifts happening in the 70s. I didn't consider that at all. Curator: It reflects a broader artistic project of that time: using abstraction to dismantle traditional artistic language and representation. These aren’t just brushstrokes; they are acts of questioning power and giving visibility to experiences pushed to the margins. What's more, Rothenberg is pushing against her male peers in Abstract Expressionism by flattening depth. Editor: That's a very helpful way of framing it. Now, I see a conversation between abstraction and representation and the artist using these approaches to challenge societal norms. Thanks! Curator: Absolutely, seeing art as an act of political intervention opens new pathways for interpreting even the subtlest of forms and color palettes!