Drillers 1918

Editor: So, this is Carl Walters’ "Drillers," an etching from 1918. It strikes me as incredibly claustrophobic. The darkness above pressing down on these figures…what symbols or historical references stand out to you? Curator: I see the weight of labor. Notice how the composition guides your eye--not just to the central figures straining under some immense, unseen burden, but further, towards the distant workers? The iconography of labor changed dramatically after the Industrial Revolution, but intensified again during the First World War. Here, those bodies evoke collective effort. Editor: Collective effort, yes, but there is a sense of facelessness, and darkness… were they making weapons? Is that why there are so many drillers in one spot? Curator: It’s more likely oil drilling. The imagery, irrespective of the actual purpose, echoes war-time sacrifice, evoking duty to the whole through backbreaking work. Think of the cultural narratives of the time, stories romanticizing toil for the greater good. The darkness perhaps mirrors the sacrifices of that era. How does that idea sit with your initial feeling of claustrophobia? Editor: That actually makes perfect sense. It’s still oppressive, but… maybe intentionally so? Highlighting this feeling of pressure put on people in the name of collective need and sacrifice. Curator: Precisely. Walters has captured both the physical reality and the psychological weight. A lasting commentary on the era. Editor: I never would have looked at it that way. Seeing this etching in a new light, considering its layers of symbolism – it adds a whole level of understanding. Curator: Visual culture is built upon layers. And with some study and reflection, even an image as seemingly straightforward as "Drillers" yields potent commentary.