Dancing Figure 1976

Curator: Immediately, I’m struck by the raw, almost ethereal quality of the figures. Editor: Yes, it's Zsuzsi Roboz's "Dancing Figure" from the Tate collection, using an image sized at 575 by 775 mm. The lithographic crayon work gives the form on the right a density that contrasts beautifully with the figure on the left, almost ghostly. Curator: The figure on the right seems caught in the act of moving, each line a testament to the physical labor of its making, the graininess of the crayon adding texture. The materiality of the printmaking process is quite visible. Editor: I agree. The hatching technique creates a sense of dynamism, and how the composition is balanced. It really captures the ephemeral nature of dance. It evokes Degas, yet feels entirely modern. Curator: Do you think Roboz considered the role of dancers as workers? Editor: Perhaps indirectly. The form suggests it, but I think she was more drawn to capturing the beauty and movement. This piece resonates long after one looks away.