Ennui Possibly 1914 - 1929

Editor: So, this is Walter Sickert's "Ennui," part of the Tate collection. It's a small etching, and the title really captures the mood, doesn't it? It feels so heavy and stagnant. What kind of social commentary do you see in this piece? Curator: The title is absolutely key here. Sickert was interested in the banality of modern life and the performance of domesticity. How do the figures interact with their environment, and with each other? Editor: It's like they're trapped, not just in the room, but also in their roles. Is that a common theme in his work? Curator: Precisely. Sickert often depicted working-class or lower-middle-class interiors to show the social realities often ignored by the mainstream art world. The figures are props in a stage set, representing a society wrestling with change. Editor: I hadn’t considered the 'stage set' aspect of it, but now that you mention it, it's hard to ignore. Curator: Exactly. Looking at art through this lens helps us understand how artists were responding to and shaping public perceptions of class, gender, and domestic life. Editor: That’s a great reminder that art isn't made in a vacuum. Thanks for sharing your perspective.