Owl 1967

Curator: Here we have Dame Elisabeth Frink’s “Owl,” held in the Tate Collections. Editor: It looks ominous, almost predatory, with those talons extended. The blue-gray background adds to the unsettling mood. Curator: Indeed, Frink often explored themes of power and vulnerability. Printmaking, with its reproducible nature, allowed her to distribute these themes widely, reaching a broader audience. Editor: Owls have long been symbols of wisdom, but also of death and the uncanny. I wonder if Frink was playing with this duality, depicting not just knowledge but also its darker aspects? Curator: It's also worth considering the physicality of printmaking itself. The labor, the pressure, the repeated actions – all contribute to the final image and its impact. Editor: A potent reminder that images are not neutral, but charged with history and meaning. Curator: Precisely, and a challenge to how we value both the artistic process and the symbols they depict.