Saul Hiding 

Curator: This is James Smetham's "Saul Hiding", a small oil painting, part of the Tate Collection. It's quite striking, isn’t it? Editor: Intensely so. The confinement, the dark corners, the raw texture of those hay bales… it evokes a potent sense of vulnerability. What narrative is Smetham engaging with here? Curator: It depicts a biblical scene where Saul, the King of Israel, hides to avoid being chosen by Samuel. The process is interesting; Smetham was self-taught, often experimenting with materials and techniques, blurring lines between fine art and more craft-based practices. Editor: Exactly, this resonates powerfully in our current moment. Consider the patriarchal structure implied by this moment of hiding: Saul is literally trying to evade destiny, to resist a role imposed upon him, and his internal conflict is so visually palpable. Curator: I find myself contemplating Smetham’s own state of mind while creating this. The materiality and scale suggests a certain intimacy, almost as if he too were grappling with inner turmoil during its creation. Editor: Yes, Smetham’s biographical context gives another layer to this piece. He certainly captures something universally human about feeling trapped by circumstance and expectation.