Waiter and Diner. Caricature 

Curator: This is Phil May's "Waiter and Diner. Caricature," held in the Tate Collections. The support is roughly 37 x 27 cm. Editor: Its stark lines create a certain nervous tension, wouldn't you agree? The waiter's pose seems to amplify the diner's isolation. Curator: May was celebrated for his economy of line, but let's not overlook the social commentary embedded in such scenes of service and class. Editor: The very sparseness contributes to its formalism! Look at how the hatching suggests volume, the composition directing our gaze, the balance between the figures. Curator: Yes, and think about the means of production and consumption represented here. These were pivotal in May's London. Editor: It’s about capturing a moment, a feeling of distance. Curator: Indeed. May's work, with its focus on everyday scenes, speaks volumes about the era's social and material dynamics. Editor: Absolutely, both elements are at play.