The Shadow, engraved by the Dalziel Brothers Possibly 1867

Curator: This is "The Shadow," an engraving by the Dalziel Brothers after George John Pinwell. It resides in the Tate Collections. Editor: It's a wonderfully busy little scene, isn't it? A little unsettling, perhaps because of the contrast between the lower and upper registers? Curator: Indeed. Pinwell often uses these contrasting registers to juxtapose innocence with the darker realities of life. Notice the dead game hanging above the children. Editor: The tonal range achieved through engraving is remarkable. Look at the textural variations—the foliage, the rough wall, the soft hides of the animals. Curator: The dead animals hung above speak to a vanishing way of life, a cultural memory of sustenance gained through sacrifice. The children are inheriting this legacy, whether consciously or not. Editor: Is it really that simple? Or is the juxtaposition more about spatial planes than social commentary? I see a formal game, a tension between the foreground and background. Curator: Perhaps it's both. Symbols are rarely one-dimensional. The shadow itself could represent the looming future, the weight of tradition. Editor: I agree, and Pinwell's graphic treatment makes it so very compelling. I’m glad we’ve taken the time to consider the image’s complexities.