Wall and Scrap 1961 - 1962

Curator: Prunella Clough, born in 1919, made this arresting print, "Wall and Scrap", using screenprint. What do you make of it? Editor: Dark! The strong horizontal bands of black and brown create a sense of confinement, almost oppressive. Curator: Clough often focused on overlooked urban and industrial landscapes. The title suggests a discarded fragment, hinting at postwar austerity and the rebuilding effort. Editor: Yes, but look at the textures. The roughness of the printmaking gives a tactile quality, a visual echo of the rough surfaces of construction or demolition sites. It feels immediate. Curator: Her work often examined the social impact of industrialization. This piece, I suspect, reflects the realities faced by working-class communities. Editor: It's more than just social commentary. It is a study in contrasts, the tension between light and dark, form and formlessness. Curator: I agree. Ultimately, Clough challenges us to reconsider beauty in the mundane. Editor: Absolutely, and she makes us see the aesthetic potential of the discarded.