Jazenne, Charente 1968

Curator: This is John Piper's "Jazenne, Charente," part of the Tate collection, a work full of fascinating textures. Editor: It feels incredibly haunted, almost theatrical, like a stage set ready for a gothic drama. Curator: Piper often sought out the romantic and ruined. He pulls us into the emotional weight of history, doesn't he? You notice the interplay of decay and survival. Editor: Absolutely. The arches evoke a sense of enduring faith, yet the cracked facades whisper tales of impermanence. I see those windows, those dark, cavernous openings, as eyes looking back at us. Curator: Piper's architectural portraits, as he called them, are never just about documentation. He's capturing a spirit, a mood. Editor: He’s showing us not just stone and mortar, but the layered narratives embedded within these old buildings. A beautiful ruin, don't you think? Curator: It is, and one that makes you want to revisit and reimagine its history. Editor: Indeed, a memory brought to life.