Hostages on a Black Ground c. 1946 - 1964

Curator: This is Jean Fautrier's "Hostages on a Black Ground," currently held in the Tate Collections. Editor: It's raw, violent even. Like scratches on a dark window, barely hinting at forms beneath. Curator: Fautrier's work often confronted the trauma of World War II, the Nazi occupation, and the atrocities committed. "Hostages" is part of a series directly addressing these events. Editor: Knowing that context explains the brutality. It's not just marks on paper, it's a material testament to suffering, to the act of bearing witness through ink and plate. Curator: Absolutely. He uses abstraction to convey the unspeakable, forcing viewers to confront the emotional impact of the war. Editor: Fautrier uses the printing process to create an experience akin to viewing the darkness of the war. Curator: It's a potent reminder of the role art plays in confronting difficult histories. Editor: Yes, and it pushes us to consider the social implications of material culture.