House of Cards c. 20th century

Editor: Here we have Mervin Jules’ "House of Cards." It’s a fascinating print. The figure seems to be building the house itself, which looks incredibly unstable. How do you interpret this work? Curator: Notice how the artist’s hand is directly involved in both the creation of the image – through the printmaking process – and the construction of the house of cards itself. This challenges any distinction between art and labor. The instability becomes a commentary on the precariousness of work and material conditions. Editor: That’s a great point. The process of making the art mirrors the subject of the art. It makes you think about the effort involved. Curator: Precisely. And how that effort is often overlooked in the final "product," whether it’s art or architecture. Editor: I see it now. Thank you for helping me look beyond the surface.