Open Window, Spitalfields 1976 - 1981

Editor: This is Anthony Eyton's "Open Window, Spitalfields," a large-scale painting housed at the Tate. The raw, almost crude application of paint really strikes me. What can you tell me about the artist's process here? Curator: Notice how Eyton emphasizes the materiality of paint itself, almost as a sculptural element. It's about the physical act of applying pigment to canvas, blurring the distinction between the representation of the window and the tangible reality of the painting's surface. Editor: So, it's less about depicting a scene and more about the inherent qualities of the medium? Curator: Exactly. The social context of Spitalfields, a historically working-class area, informs the painting’s rough-hewn aesthetic, seemingly elevating everyday labor and materials to the realm of high art. Editor: I hadn't considered that. It really reframes my understanding of the painting. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure. Paying attention to process and context always enriches the viewing experience.