From "Le tir à l'arc" Possibly 1960

Editor: Here we have “From ‘Le tir à l'arc’”, a drawing, or perhaps a print, in ink by Georges Braque, possibly from 1960. The stark contrast and minimal lines are so striking! It feels unfinished, yet very deliberate. What do you see in this piece, considering the artist's choice of materials? Curator: It’s crucial to consider the *means* of production here. Braque deliberately challenges high art by utilizing ink, often associated with more commercial or craft-based applications. The high contrast is achieved by ink on what seems like heavily processed paper, making its "aura" very intriguing in an increasingly mechanical world. Editor: I hadn't thought about ink as a challenge to high art before, could you elaborate? Curator: Consider the history; traditionally, drawings are preliminary or preparatory sketches, secondary to the 'finished' painting. Prints allowed artworks to reach wider audiences; their relative inexpensiveness stood in contrast to the art world’s elite consumption habits. Is Braque democratizing art? Posing questions on art as precious? Editor: So you are saying, by using an accessible medium like ink and suggesting this could be a multiple rather than an "original" he challenges the concept of Art with a capital A? Curator: Precisely! The minimal line work contributes to this reading. It highlights the reproducible nature of line itself, potentially undercutting ideas around artistic genius by simplifying the physical act of image production to one of the essential actions and elemental resources used daily. What new meanings do you find considering that? Editor: I guess I considered it incomplete until now, now it looks radically challenging and forward-thinking, very cool. Curator: Indeed, viewing it from a Materialist lens certainly unveils new perspectives and appreciation.