Skipping (The Gutter) 1934 - 1935

Curator: William Roberts, born in 1895, painted this oil on canvas, Skipping (The Gutter). It’s quite large, almost one and a half meters high. What's your first impression? Editor: They seem suspended, weightless. The three figures, rendered with such solidity, are somehow floating in this pastel dreamscape. Curator: Roberts often depicted figures with a certain... bulkiness. Here, their forms seem almost architectural, lending a sense of stability to the fleeting moment of play. Editor: Architectural yet playful. I'm intrigued by the title; "The Gutter" suggests a social commentary, perhaps about working-class women finding joy amidst hardship. Curator: Or, perhaps, a reminder that joy, like a skipping rope, always has to be grounded to take flight. It's a lovely contrast. What do you think? Editor: Yes, this piece makes me think about how our bodies carry stories, both our own and those of generations past. There is resistance here, and it is joyous. Curator: Exactly! A piece that dances between constraint and freedom, and continues to resonate today. Editor: Indeed. It gives me a new appreciation for Robert's vision.