Defilé des Soldats de Plomb 1970

Curator: My eyes immediately go to the interplay of those energetic, fragmented forms—a real whirlwind of color! Editor: Indeed, there is a tangible liveliness! We are looking at "Defilé des Soldats de Plomb," or "Parade of the Tin Soldiers" by Natalia Dumitresco, created in 1970. Curator: Knowing the title now, I can discern an almost dream-like representation of marching figures, embedded within layers of geometric shapes and rich color tones of orange and red! Does it represent a kind of militaristic march of some sort? Editor: In considering its making, observe the textured surfaces; Dumitresco appears to have favored an impasto technique in layering these dynamic shapes and small figures! I am drawn to thinking about its materials and production... was it rapidly executed to mirror the rapid action of marching soldiers, or was it something that the artist painstakingly and meditatively constructed? Curator: Given Dumitresco’s Romanian heritage and the date it was created, perhaps there's an allegorical element here— a representation of national pride or possibly a subdued critique of Soviet power dynamics that ruled with its communist influence throughout that period? It seems like a controlled explosion that echoes feelings of celebration but at the same time, tension. Editor: From a more practical, material lens, I appreciate how Dumitresco seemingly integrates "low" materials or craft-oriented processes into "high" art... there is nothing refined about how these patterns are built and executed... it lends itself to the energy you speak of! Curator: Right! These aren't refined lines; the overall construction feels quite spontaneous! Thank you for helping see the social contexts embedded in her production choices! Editor: Absolutely! Likewise, I’ve gleaned insight from how this artist explores symbolism to subtly narrate socio-political stories through materiality and production of the artwork.