Canto XVIII: [no title] 1982

Editor: So, this intaglio print is by Esq Tom Phillips, titled "Canto XVIII," and it's held at the Tate. I’m really struck by the blue monochrome; it gives the piece a detached, almost dreamlike quality. What do you see when you look at this? Curator: Ah, yes, the colour is quite evocative, isn't it? It whispers of blueprints, of something planned, maybe even of melancholy. For me, the layering of images, the highway, the figure, the text snippets, all speak to the density of modern experience. Does the figure look burdened to you, almost crushed by the weight of information overload? Editor: I see what you mean! It’s like the artist is visually representing the chaos of thoughts and impressions we navigate every day. I initially thought the blue was just aesthetic, but now it seems more intentional. Thanks!