Canto XXVIII: [no title] 1983

Editor: This is Esq Tom Phillips' "Canto XXVIII," an undated etching held at the Tate. The stark imagery and high contrast give it a really unsettling feel. What historical context informs this piece? Curator: Considering Phillips’ engagement with literature, particularly Dante, and his interest in the relationship between text and image, how might this print engage with socio-political anxieties of its time? Editor: So, it's not just about personal expression but a reflection on broader social issues? Curator: Precisely. The fragmented imagery may mirror societal fragmentation or the deconstruction of established norms. What do you make of the headless figure? Editor: It could represent a loss of identity or perhaps resistance against authority. I see it now, the figure is a symbol for a larger historical narrative, very interesting! Curator: Indeed. Looking closely at the piece reveals a complex interplay between individual and collective experience within a specific historical frame.