Large Trolley 1972

Editor: This is Dieter Roth's "Large Trolley," created sometime during his lifetime. The stark lines and fragmented composition give it such an unsettling mood. What do you see in the way it’s constructed? Curator: The trolley is presented through line, shape, and tonal variation. Note how Roth divides the image, juxtaposing the crisp upper rendering with the murky depths of the lower sections. The geometric tension is quite potent. Editor: So, the formal arrangement creates that sense of unease I felt? Curator: Precisely. The layering and partitioning disrupt any easy reading, inviting closer scrutiny of its very materiality. Editor: I see it now! Thanks for helping me look at the image’s structure and form. Curator: Indeed, observing the formal elements allows one to appreciate the complexities within seemingly simple subjects.