The Miller’s Tale II 1972

Curator: Dame Elisabeth Frink’s "The Miller’s Tale II" presents a stark and suggestive visual narrative. What strikes you most about its composition? Editor: The starkness is undeniable. The work’s limited tonal range and contrasting forms evoke a dreamlike, almost unsettling atmosphere. Curator: Frink often explored themes of masculinity and power. Considering the figures depicted, how might we interpret this within broader societal structures? Editor: Semiotically, the fragmented body alludes to vulnerability, challenging traditional notions of male strength. The bright orb further complicates this reading, perhaps signifying knowledge or even destruction. Curator: Indeed, Frink’s engagement with Chaucer's themes allows us to investigate the power dynamics embedded within the tale, offering a lens through which we can examine contemporary issues of gender and exploitation. Editor: Frink's formal choices certainly amplify the themes, inviting us to engage critically with its visual language. Curator: Precisely. Frink pushes us to confront uncomfortable truths, both within the narrative and within ourselves.