The Pick-a-Back c. 1925

Curator: This is "The Pick-a-Back" by Rodney J. Burn, part of the Tate Collections. Editor: It feels so tender, almost like a memory surfacing in faded colors. The red chalk is so evocative. Curator: The sketch really captures a universal experience. There's a definite intimacy on display, the embodied labour of childcare. Editor: I keep wondering about the relationship between the figures. The embrace feels protective. Curator: Burn was known for his figure studies. Note how he uses the medium to convey form and emotion in such an economic way. Editor: It's affecting me more than I thought it would. It's simple, yet carries the weight of a whole story. Curator: Perhaps the sketch invites us to consider the broader societal expectations and labour associated with caregiving. Editor: Yes, it really makes you think...thanks for sharing your knowledge about this.