Canto XXXIV: [no title] 1983

Editor: This haunting print, Canto XXXIV by Esq Tom Phillips, presents these almost ghostly figures emerging from the darkness. What strikes me is their unified presence, yet obscured identities. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The repetition of the human form immediately evokes ideas of shared experience, perhaps collective memory or a shared trauma. But the obscured faces, nearly dissolving into the background, suggest a loss of individual identity. Consider the recurring motif of the mask throughout history. How does concealing the face change the narrative? Editor: So, you're suggesting the obscured faces aren't just stylistic, but carry symbolic weight? Curator: Precisely. The artist might be commenting on the erosion of individuality within a larger societal context. Perhaps those words at the bottom offer a clue… the final good bye here. What lasting impact do you think this artwork leaves with viewers?