Le Sphinx 1937

Editor: Here we have James Boswell's "Le Sphinx," a drawing in the Tate's collection. It feels very much like a snapshot of a particular time and place, maybe a bar? How do you read the social dynamics within this composition? Curator: Considering Boswell's work often reflected social realities, particularly during and after wartime, this scene might depict a space where traditional social mores are relaxed or challenged. Do you see hints of class tension or gender dynamics at play here? Editor: I didn’t think of that, but now that you mention it, there's a real mix of people depicted. I see how the setting becomes a stage for social commentary. Curator: Exactly. The "Sphinx" likely symbolizes an enigma, prompting us to question the roles and relationships depicted in post-war society. It makes me consider what Boswell thought about art's power in speaking to society.