Badminton 1943

Editor: This print, titled "Badminton," was created by Edward Landon in 1943. I’m immediately struck by its graphic quality, the limited palette and the simplified forms. What strikes you most about it? Curator: Considering it was made during World War II, the image becomes quite intriguing. On the surface, we see leisure, but that act of play is deliberately chosen, a stark contrast to the global conflict raging at the time. It's like a snapshot of a privileged world, disconnected from the realities of war. How do these abstracted bodies performing this specific action make you feel? Editor: I can see that tension you’re describing, but initially, it felt quite lighthearted and almost humorous, especially given the rather caricatured figures. The shapes seem very intentional; almost like a commentary on body image and societal expectations, maybe even pushing against the typical heroic male figure that was pervasive in art and propaganda at that time. Curator: Exactly. The distorted proportions, the active posing, the absence of detail— these challenge conventional representations and can be interpreted as subversive gestures. Are we meant to see athletic prowess or are we confronted with an alternate archetype that reflects real bodies, not idealized forms? Think of the implications in a time when national identity and the body politic were so intertwined! Editor: I never would have thought about this print that way. The combination of leisure and conflict is something that makes a new impact. The playful forms might belie something more, and perhaps serve as a call for attention to underrepresented and marginalized populations and push towards change through subtle visual disruption. Curator: Precisely! Landon cleverly uses this medium to question accepted norms, which is precisely where the intersection of art and activism truly shines!