The Hermit, Illustration for ‘Four Fables’ by David Roberts c. 1942

Curator: This is William Roberts' pencil drawing, "The Hermit, Illustration for ‘Four Fables’ by David Roberts." The Tate holds this preliminary work. Editor: It's very architectural, yet fluid; the figures almost melt into one another. The grid underneath gives it an interesting sense of planned, precise construction that belies the subject matter. Curator: Note the artist’s meticulous use of grid lines, which are visible beneath the linework. Roberts employs this technique to precisely arrange figures, demonstrating his formal training and interest in industrial modes of artistic production. Editor: The repetition, the near-identical bodies, it speaks to mass production, the anonymity of labour. Each figure performs a task; playing music, rowing, but also trapped in the composition. Curator: Right, and while Roberts is known for his social commentary, here, he seems to focus on the formal arrangement, the way the bodies interlock and echo one another. Editor: It feels a bit like a diagram, all about the mechanics. I’m left thinking about how Roberts’ style is so indicative of its time, reflecting both social realities and the artist's process.