[no title] 1998

Editor: This etching by John Walker from the Tate collection depicts two figures, possibly warriors. The stark lines and minimal detail give it a really unsettling, almost nightmarish quality. What do you make of it? Curator: It reminds me of Goya's Disasters of War. There's this palpable sense of trauma and dehumanization. Notice how the figures are masked, almost robotic? Walker often explored themes of conflict and identity. Editor: So you see it as a commentary on war? Curator: Perhaps, or more broadly, the masks could symbolize societal roles that strip us of our individuality. It's a stark piece, prompting us to consider the cost of conformity. Editor: That’s a chilling, but compelling perspective.