Loch Ness 1976

Curator: Barry Flanagan, known for his playful sculptures, also created this etching, simply titled "Loch Ness." It's part of the Tate Collection. Editor: It's so spare, almost Zen, isn't it? The barest whisper of a landscape, conjuring up a place more than depicting it. Curator: The simplicity is deceiving. Flanagan was deeply engaged with the Romantic tradition of landscape, critiquing its emphasis on the sublime through these deliberately understated depictions. Editor: I can see that. It's as if he's saying, "Here's the legend, but all I give you are suggestions." Very clever and a bit cheeky. Curator: Exactly. The title evokes the myth, but the image itself remains elusive, questioning how we build narratives around places. Editor: It makes you wonder what else is lurking beneath the surface of something so seemingly simple. Curator: A fitting point, I think, on which to ponder Flanagan's work. Editor: Indeed, it's made me rethink my own first impressions.