Houses of Parliament II 1967

Editor: This is Oskar Kokoschka’s "Houses of Parliament II" in graphite. It looks like it was done quickly, maybe en plein air, and it's a classic London scene, but it’s also kind of brooding. What do you notice about the context surrounding this work? Curator: Kokoschka made several views of the Thames and Parliament. Consider the historical moment; post-war anxieties were high, even in London. His expressive style, the quick strokes, captures not just the buildings but a certain political unease, don’t you think? The Houses of Parliament become almost spectral. Editor: I see what you mean. It is less about the architecture itself and more about the feeling it evokes. Thanks! Curator: Exactly! And how that feeling reflects the anxieties of the time. Food for thought.