Blue Horizon 

Editor: So, here we have “Blue Horizon” by John Miller, using oil paint to achieve this kind of subdued landscape abstraction. I find it really calming; the way those horizontal bands of color interact. What strikes you most about this work? Curator: The oil itself really interests me here. Consider the economic accessibility of oil paint at different points in history. The labor to source pigments, manufacture, distribute, and, of course, the eventual act of consumption with application onto the canvas. Did Miller consider these implications while producing "Blue Horizon," and how can we interpret the work in terms of these historical structures? Editor: That's fascinating; I never really thought about the supply chain of art materials! Does the smooth application, then, indicate a detachment from labor in favor of a more high-art focus? Curator: It’s not necessarily detachment, but perhaps a negotiation. Oil paint, despite its wide use, carries the weight of art history, artistic privilege. Think about its effect on the rise of capitalism and its intersection with trade. And while we analyze this, the question must be asked -- who has access and can produce with it? What implications does that hold socially? Editor: Right, it’s like Miller is consciously engaging with this whole history simply by using these particular materials in this way. Curator: Precisely. The deliberate simplification, too. What could be said of how Miller is treating such a traditional style of art? Where are the natural resources coming from for the paints used? Where do we find these same horizons depicted? How is Miller speaking on landscape art in general and using it within an established set of historical narratives, and how is he innovating within it using specific oil paints? Editor: So, by focusing on the physical elements and their context, we can uncover a conversation about value, access, and tradition within this seemingly simple landscape? That’s such a cool perspective. Curator: Exactly. By asking, "What is oil paint and its history suggesting in "Blue Horizon?" we see a deep and nuanced analysis of materiality can reshape how we understand the work entirely.