Still Life (recto and verso) c. 20th century

Curator: This is "Still Life (recto and verso)" by László Medgyes, housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It has a rather naive, almost woodcut-like quality, with strong compositional lines. Curator: Indeed. The visible cross-hatching technique suggests a handmade, possibly didactic context, pushing against notions of art as purely representational. Editor: The linear quality certainly flattens the forms, turning them into symbols more than renderings of observed reality. I am drawn to the contrast of textures implied solely through line. Curator: I agree. The stark materials and obvious mark-making suggest a commentary on accessibility and the democratizing potential of art production. Editor: Perhaps. It’s a tightly designed composition. It really holds the viewer's attention despite the limited palette. Curator: Absolutely. Medgyes offers a fascinating look at the intersection of material and meaning. Editor: A wonderful distillation of form!