Study for ‘The Gipsies’ c. 1942

Editor: Here we have William Roberts's "Study for ‘The Gipsies’" from the Tate collection. It’s a fascinating pencil drawing, showing a group of people with horses and a caravan. What strikes me is how the grid underneath seems to highlight the labor involved in creating the artwork. What are your thoughts? Curator: The grid certainly speaks to the artistic process, emphasizing the labor behind its making, and how the means of production themselves add another layer to our interpretation of the work. Notice the figures repairing items, which speaks to their material existence and consumption practices. How does that inform your reading of the artwork? Editor: That's a great point. I hadn't considered the connection between the figures' labor within the image and the artist's labor in creating it. Thanks for helping me see that! Curator: My pleasure! It’s all about considering the means through which art is created and consumed.