The Bannister 1981

Editor: This is Will Barnet’s "The Bannister," created in 1981, a watercolor and print on paper. It has a very quiet, contemplative mood to me, almost melancholic. What social themes do you see in this work, considering it’s from the early 80s? Curator: Well, let’s unpack that feeling of melancholy. How does the composition, the arrangement of figures, contribute to this mood for you? The figure, seemingly trapped behind the bannister, the distant staircase, the almost protective cat—are those elements reinforcing isolation, perhaps reflecting anxieties present in the changing social landscape of the time? Editor: Definitely the bannister creates that sense of being enclosed, or watched perhaps. And you are right to flag that there are multiple layers of seclusion here; both characters in their respective isolation. Is Barnet commenting on domesticity in a post-feminist era, given the woman is confined to the home space? Curator: That's a perceptive question! Domesticity was, indeed, being renegotiated at that time. But is she truly confined? Consider the stairs—suggesting movement, a potential escape, or transition. The role of the cat—companion, symbol of independence, also shifts how we read the domestic space, perhaps reflecting broader debates of the period regarding independence. Editor: I hadn't considered the stairs as a symbol of potential agency. The cat, too – not just a household pet, but maybe a quiet observer or fellow traveller with the girl. Curator: Exactly! And it reminds us that artistic meaning isn't fixed. By examining the social currents surrounding a work's creation, we unlock further interpretive possibilities. Editor: This really has me rethinking my initial reaction and how artwork can reflect such diverse elements of that time. Thanks. Curator: It is an art piece to be remembered indeed; thank you for your questions that enriched my knowledge.