Hiding Schoolgirl 

Charles Blackman's "Hiding Schoolgirl" presents us with a figure cloaked in shadow and oversized attire. The hat and dress, symbols of conformity and societal expectation, ironically become tools of concealment. Consider the motif of hiding. It echoes through art history, from Cupid and Psyche shrouded in darkness, to children playing hide and seek, a universal game laden with anticipation and fear. The act of hiding speaks to a deeper psychological yearning for safety, a retreat into the self. This echoes images of the Madonna of Mercy, who offers protection under her mantle. Here, the schoolgirl’s posture suggests a vulnerability, a turning inward. This is a poignant depiction of adolescence and the struggle to find oneself amidst societal pressures. Blackman taps into the collective memory of childhood and the emotional weight of growing up. Note, the act of concealing oneself is a recurring theme, resurfacing in varied forms, revealing the enduring human need for both protection and self-discovery.