Canto IX: [no title] 1982

Curator: This is "Canto IX" by Esq Tom Phillips. Created without a date, this image held in the Tate collections presents a striking composition in monochrome print. Editor: The lions are intense; they feel like symbols of power struggling within some imposed structure, those dark vertical bars. Curator: The symbolism of lions is age-old, power, royalty, courage. But consider the context; how does Phillips, working in the late 20th century, engage with these established meanings? Editor: And the way the heraldic lion at the top almost seems to float, detached. It feels like a critical commentary on inherited authority. Curator: Precisely, a disruption of tradition. Phillips invites us to question the narratives we inherit. Editor: Ultimately, it’s a powerful image that sparks so much thought about authority and challenge. Curator: Agreed, a testament to the enduring relevance of historical symbols.