The Maltings, Snape 1970

Editor: This is David Gentleman's "The Maltings, Snape" from the Tate collection. The building is so covered in vegetation; it almost feels reclaimed by nature. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see Gentleman engaging with the romantic tradition of depicting architecture, but with a modern sensibility. Consider how the building's façade, softened by nature, represents a subtle commentary on the tension between human intervention and the environment, a key concern within post-war social dialogues. Editor: That’s a very different way of seeing it than I initially thought! Curator: Right, seeing it as more than just a pretty building allows us to discuss our relationship with the environment.