Sand Stones 1938

Editor: "Sand Stones" by Max McAfee, created in 1938. It's a print. Immediately, it feels like looking at some serene monument frozen in time. Everything seems simplified down to basic shapes. What do you make of it? Curator: Ah, yes, it is like seeing the desert after a long day hiking; stark but beautiful and full of long shadows. McAfee really plays with this simplified geometric language. It makes you wonder, doesn't it, what he wanted to convey by distilling such a huge landscape into almost architectural forms? It reminds me of Art Deco in its elegance, and a hint of something else—a bit... theatrical. Editor: Theatrical? I can see that! The rocks almost seem like stage props, and the sky as a painted backdrop. But why "theatrical," specifically? Curator: Think of those Works Progress Administration murals. Grand narratives distilled into accessible images for the masses. The stylization allows the artist to pull away from literal representation and get into, I think, something more... elemental. Almost dreamlike. What I love about this print, though, is how its simplification doesn't strip it of power. Instead, the stylized geometric rendering invites contemplation. Editor: So it’s both simple and loaded at the same time. Now that's intriguing! Curator: Exactly. It invites viewers to find their meaning within those stark forms. A monument and landscape captured with great abstraction to distill some profound truths. Almost as if it can echo deep into our individual histories... It definitely evokes the history of human impact upon landscapes. Editor: Thanks for pointing that out; I will definitely think of McAfee in a whole new light. Curator: Absolutely. Looking at things anew – it’s the best reason to share a gallery!