Skull and Pomegranate 1954

Curator: Prunella Clough's print, "Skull and Pomegranate," offers a stark meditation on mortality. It's a small image, only 85 by 125 mm, but its impact is considerable. Editor: My first impression is somber, almost oppressive. The dense hatching creates a feeling of decay, yet the pomegranate hints at something more...hope, perhaps? Curator: The symbolism here is ripe for intersectional analysis. The skull, a classic memento mori, confronts the pomegranate, a symbol of fertility and regeneration, particularly within feminine and mythological narratives. What does it mean to juxtapose these so starkly? Editor: Well, Clough was working in a post-war context, and these images are always products of their time. There's a long tradition of vanitas painting exploring those themes of mortality and earthly pleasure. Perhaps she's engaging with that history. Curator: And subverting it, I think. Clough's industrial aesthetic, her focus on overlooked urban spaces, suggests a critique of traditional, often patriarchal, artistic conventions. This isn't just about death; it's about questioning power structures. Editor: I see your point. The crudeness of the printmaking contrasts sharply with the elegance we often associate with those vanitas still lifes, disrupting our expectations. Curator: Ultimately, "Skull and Pomegranate" compels us to confront uncomfortable truths, not just about death but about the societal forces that shape our lives. Editor: A powerful reminder that even in the smallest of images, we can find profound reflections on history and humanity.