Study for ‘The Swimming Lesson’ c. 1929

Editor: This is William Roberts' "Study for ‘The Swimming Lesson’" held at the Tate. It feels very geometric, almost architectural. What do you see in the composition? Curator: Observe how Roberts employs simplification and geometric abstraction. The figures are reduced to basic forms. Note the strategic grid overlaid. How do you think it affects the composition? Editor: It feels like he's trying to impose order, to dissect and rebuild the scene. It creates separate zones within the same pictorial field. Curator: Precisely. The rigidity and angularity of the forms create a certain tension. Editor: It’s as though the human body is being broken down into its most basic components. Thanks for shedding some light on it! Curator: Indeed. A fascinating study in form and structure.