Merry-Go-Round 1916

Curator: At Tate Britain, we see Mark Gertler's monumental canvas, "Merry-Go-Round." Editor: It’s imposing—the sheer size and those angular figures create a jarring, unsettling feeling. Curator: Gertler made it during the First World War. The riders, frozen in perpetual motion, seem like cogs in a machine of war. Notice the uniforms: they evoke the military. Editor: And the paint! It feels thick, almost sculptural, as if the figures were molded rather than painted. It's very far from the playful joy one might expect from the subject matter. Curator: Exactly. The merry-go-round traditionally symbolizes fleeting joy, but here it’s a relentless cycle of mechanized horror. The horses, usually symbols of power, are pale and lifeless. Editor: Considering the era, it's hard not to see this through the lens of industrialization and the way it reshaped labor and social life. Gertler made a powerful comment. Curator: Indeed. It serves as a potent symbol of cultural trauma and disillusionment. Editor: A truly unforgettable, if disturbing, piece.