21. Christ Church, Spitalfields, London: by Nicholas Hawksmoor 1964

Editor: This is John Piper’s "21. Christ Church, Spitalfields, London: by Nicholas Hawksmoor," from the Tate Collection. The print has such a dramatic, almost gothic feel to it. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see Piper engaging with the sublime, a popular concept in the Romantic era. Hawksmoor's architecture, especially within the context of Spitalfields with its complex history of immigration and poverty, becomes a stage for exploring power and vulnerability. What do you think about the tension between the church's imposing structure and the fragility suggested by Piper’s linework? Editor: That’s a great point. It does feel like the church is both a symbol of strength and something much more precarious. I hadn’t considered the Spitalfields context either. Curator: Thinking about that location, does the print make you consider how institutions impact communities? What stories do you think it's trying to tell? Editor: It makes me think about the church's role in the community, both positive and negative. This print definitely adds another layer to my understanding of its history. Curator: Exactly. Art is so interesting because of the conversations that it can create about social power!