Untitled (Smokestack) 1938

Editor: So, here we have Bernard Joseph Steffen’s "Untitled (Smokestack)" from 1938, a drawing rendered in graphite. It’s quite moody, almost ominous. I’m struck by how the stark realism of the industrial scene clashes with this hazy, dreamlike quality. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Ah, yes, Steffen’s smokestack...it whispers to me of a world on the brink. Think of it – 1938. The Great Depression is easing, but the shadow of war looms large. That smokestack isn’t just a smokestack; it's a pillar of industry, hope, maybe even a bit of hubris, standing tall against a turbulent sky. Does the smoke appear comforting, or does it foreshadow the darkness of industry, and of conflict? Editor: I think it feels more unsettling. Like progress coming at a cost. The smokestack is so dominant, but the rest of the cityscape feels... fragile? Curator: Exactly! Notice how Steffen plays with perspective and light. That smokestack is solid, grounded. Yet, everything around it shimmers, seems on the verge of dissolving. The cars below, are they moving forward, or are they stuck in place? Steffen challenges us to consider our relationship with the world, particularly in this period of enormous and terrifying changes. Editor: That makes so much sense. The industrial element contrasts really vividly with those wispy clouds. It's like two different realities coexisting. Curator: And consider the medium – graphite. Simple, unassuming, yet capable of capturing the nuances of light and shadow with incredible depth. Steffen uses it to invite us into his personal reflections on a society caught in a moment of transformation, a moment thick with anxiety and ambition. The texture in this, it feels lived-in, doesn't it? Editor: I see it now. The hum of anxiety from the changing world, reflected through Steffen's personal lens. I appreciate that perspective! Curator: Indeed, this artwork invites us to step into Steffen's mind, to explore a vision that resonates powerfully across time. It serves as a looking glass to see our future more clearly through its creative symbolism.