Prometheus 1970

Curator: Ceri Richards created this depiction of "Prometheus," and what strikes me immediately is its graphic simplicity against that bold yellow background. It feels so immediate. Editor: Yes, the figure of Prometheus bound is particularly striking. One cannot help but think of the legacies of colonialism and enslavement, where bodies were similarly restrained for daring to challenge power. Curator: Absolutely. The composition stages a powerful tension: Prometheus, the defiant bringer of fire, is literally pinned down by the eagle—a symbol of Zeus's authority. It’s almost theatrical in its stark presentation. Editor: The starkness almost lends it a modern feel, even as it draws from classical myth. And the figure poised with bow and arrow, is that Heracles? I wonder what Richards was trying to say about systems of power. Curator: It does invite pondering. It's a reminder of the continuous struggle against oppressive structures. Editor: True, this stark image really makes one think about those struggles, then and now.