Model and Dog 1974 - 1975

Curator: Craigie Aitchison's "Model and Dog," now residing at the Tate, presents a striking tableau. Editor: It's deceptively simple, isn't it? That dog, almost spectral, against the violet, and the church silhouetted – a sort of devotional postcard from a dream. Curator: Aitchison often worked on unprimed canvas, allowing the weave to show through; the visible surface invites you to notice the labor and the artist's touch. Editor: The starkness of the materials emphasizes a deep humanity in his work. The model’s gaze seems to ask, what are we *really* seeing when we look at art or even each other? Curator: Yes, there's a rawness, an honesty, that transcends mere representation. It's about feeling, not just seeing. Editor: Absolutely, an everyday sensuality elevated by its humble, earthly construction. Curator: It remains deeply personal. Editor: And for me it's that tension of the subject and its making that resonates.