The Family of Darius before Alexander (2) 1998

Curator: Kossoff's etching, "The Family of Darius before Alexander (2)," now in the Tate, presents a scene laden with historical and emotional weight. Editor: It strikes me first as a whirlwind of emotion, all caught in the frantic lines. Curator: Absolutely. The subject itself is ripe with symbolic resonance. The conquered family of Darius, humbled before Alexander, speaks to power, submission, and the complexities of human interaction amidst conquest. Editor: And the linear, almost frantic, marks amplify that tension. The figures seem caught in a moment of suspended animation. It really asks the question of how history remembers such encounters. Curator: Indeed. Kossoff, by returning to this subject, echoes centuries of artists grappling with similar themes of power and humanity. We see those concerns reflected through history. Editor: A poignant reminder of the cyclical nature of power, and how art shapes our collective memory.