Study for ‘Window Dressing’ c. 1957

Editor: This is William Roberts' Study for ‘Window Dressing’, housed at the Tate. I am struck by the figures, all delineated with such sharp, almost mechanical lines. What do you see in the way Roberts uses the materials to depict this scene? Curator: The graphite on paper emphasizes the constructed nature of reality. Consider the grid beneath the figures; it exposes the labor involved in creating an image, highlighting the means of production. It also challenges the illusion of depth, reminding us of the material flatness of the drawing itself. Editor: So, you're saying that Roberts is drawing our attention to the process? Curator: Precisely. By laying bare the mechanics of image-making, Roberts invites us to consider not just what is depicted, but how it is made and the social context of its creation. Editor: That's such a different way of looking at it. Thanks for pointing that out! Curator: My pleasure. It's all about understanding the artist's work through the lens of materials, production and labor.