Palazzo Ducale, Urbino, as a Subway Station 1984

Editor: This is Joyce Kozloff's "Palazzo Ducale, Urbino, as a Subway Station," created in 1984 using mixed media. The playful juxtaposition of Renaissance architecture and subway signage feels so… unexpected. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The painting offers a stimulating dialogue through its formal structure. Note how Kozloff synthesizes seemingly disparate elements: the grandeur of the Palazzo Ducale, represented by a stylized doorway with classical motifs, is abruptly contrasted with the banal signage of a subway station. What does this juxtaposition suggest to you about the nature of high and low culture? Editor: Hmm, it makes me think about how art is consumed differently in various settings. The 'bargain' sign hints at the commercialization of everything. Curator: Precisely. Observe also how Kozloff manipulates perspective and space. The Palazzo, rendered in simplified geometric forms and vibrant colors, flattens the architectural depth, creating a disorienting yet visually compelling space. Consider how these formal choices contribute to the overall message. Editor: I hadn’t noticed how the flat perspective adds to the sense of unease. It’s like being caught between two different worlds. The clean, graphic style is also very striking. Curator: Indeed. And that graphic clarity amplifies the artwork's central contrast, drawing our attention to the visual vocabulary inherent to the mediums employed. Editor: That’s a fantastic perspective; I will have to apply those visual cues as a take-away to understand better the structure behind the messaging of the artwork! Curator: And, to understand the dialogue created between various worlds with a keen eye towards form.