[title not known] Possibly 1843

Editor: This is an engraving by John Linnell, from the Tate Collection. It depicts a gathering of people, almost bacchanalian in its energy. What strikes you most about this piece? Curator: Well, it's certainly a lively scene! The stark black and white creates a world of contrasts, doesn't it? A blend of revelry and something a bit darker lurking in the shadows... I wonder if Linnell felt like a bit of an outsider observing such frenetic energy? Editor: An outsider? How so? Curator: Perhaps he felt he was observing a world to which he only had partial access. Don't you get the sense that he's observing a chaotic world? Editor: That's a good point! It does feel a bit voyeuristic. I hadn't considered that before. Curator: And isn't that the fun of art? It can always show us different aspects of life.