Drawings of curves 1926

Editor: This is Frantisek Kupka’s "Drawings of curves" from 1926, and it looks like it's done with watercolor and maybe some oil. It's quite abstract, with these geometric shapes. I’m curious, what elements of production really stand out to you here? Curator: Considering a materialist lens, I focus on the act of creation itself. Notice the almost industrial quality of the repeated vertical strokes. Are these 'drawings of curves' actually studies of architectural supports, steel girders maybe, under construction? The cool precision of the watercolor feels significant. Editor: So, you see a connection between the materials and the social environment of the time? Curator: Absolutely! Think about the 1920s - the rise of industrial production. Kupka seems less interested in depicting recognizable objects and more in the fundamental components of construction: line, color, and form. This could be a commentary on how materials themselves shape our world and our perception. Are those bars representing iron and steel as an artistic statement, or architectural musings? Editor: That’s fascinating. I hadn’t considered the possible influence of the industrial world on an abstract piece. What do you think is more impactful in this piece, his manipulation of form or his employment of color? Curator: The interaction. The way those cool blues contain the warm oranges – it speaks to an order being imposed on raw material. The white space becomes a void or negative space surrounding a very distinct object. So the production involves ordering it or building the space itself around these fundamental blocks. It speaks volumes about the industrial and design production and labor of the time. Editor: I’m starting to see how looking at art through a materialist lens can open up completely new perspectives on even abstract works like this. Curator: Precisely. It's about recognizing how the materials, techniques, and social context intertwine to shape our understanding and relationship to a work of art.