Aftermath 1971

Editor: This is Philip Hicks's print, called "Aftermath." I find its cool blues and greens really striking, yet the soldiers' faces convey such sadness. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The faces, yes, they pull you in. Hicks seems to be asking us about the cost of war, doesn't he? Beyond the physical, what remains? The repetition of the soldier's form might echo the endless cycle of conflict. Editor: That's a great point. The cyclical nature, almost like a recurring nightmare. Curator: Exactly. The piece feels like a lament. Makes you wonder about hope, resilience. Editor: I hadn’t considered that it could be cyclical. Thanks, that gives me so much to think about.