Mrs Williams 1924

Curator: This is Eric Gill's wood engraving, "Mrs. Williams," currently residing in the Tate Collections. Editor: Stark, isn't it? A powerful silhouette, almost like a shadow puppet frozen in time. It gives off a very austere vibe. Curator: Gill was deeply involved in the Arts and Crafts movement; his Roman Catholic faith also greatly influenced his stark aesthetic. Editor: I can see that severity. Look at the lines of her hair, so meticulously carved, almost architectural. She looks stoic. Curator: That was often the point in portraiture of this period, to convey dignity. Gill walked a very public tightrope between sacred and profane in his career. Editor: True, but it also feels intimate, like a secret whispered in black ink. It's a study in contrasts, harsh yet refined. Curator: Seeing it this way makes me reconsider its place, as something both formally composed and deeply personal. Editor: Exactly. It's like a visual haiku: simple on the surface, but resonating with hidden depths.