Study for ‘The Barber’s Shop’ 1976

Curator: Immediately, I see a rather unsettling feeling of alienation in this small watercolor, despite the communal setting. Editor: This is William Roberts's 'Study for "The Barber's Shop"'. While undated, it's signed and presumed to be from 1976. The Tate holds this work, a preparatory sketch. Curator: The figures are so stylized, almost robotic. Is Roberts commenting on the depersonalization of modern life through this seemingly mundane scene? The repetition, the lack of individuality—it’s quite striking. Editor: Roberts was associated with Vorticism, so we can see Cubist influences in the fractured forms and geometric arrangement. The subdued palette reinforces the solemn atmosphere. Curator: I agree. There's a sense of social commentary here, a reflection on the human condition within the confines of societal structures. Editor: Through its formal qualities, the piece conveys a sense of constrained movement and psychological tension, a study in how repetition can be both a compositional tool and a thematic statement. Curator: It's interesting how the grid, which is part of the study, almost cages the figures. It underscores the themes of conformity and the loss of autonomy. Editor: Yes, it adds another layer of meaning to this small but very powerful composition.