Knaresborough 1929

Editor: So this etching by Kenneth Holmes, called "Knaresborough", was created in 1929. It's really dynamic! The composition makes me think about community and recreation. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a fascinating snapshot of social life in 1929. Consider the context: post-World War I, a period of rebuilding, but also simmering social unrest, economic inequality and the rise of mass culture. How do you think this piece speaks to that historical moment? Editor: Well, there's a lot of people gathered together. Does this represent some tension? Curator: It could. These kinds of communal activities are about pleasure, but who has access to that pleasure? I'm also curious about what the site of leisure – here, an ice rink – makes visible about community hierarchies. Editor: That’s interesting. The architecture towering above the frozen river certainly looks more permanent and established than this temporary activity. Curator: Exactly. The buildings, like the church, suggest authority and longevity. It invites the question of what structures – social, political, or economic – literally and figuratively overlook this community. What does "playing" on the ice mean under their watch? Is there an element of resistance in this seemingly carefree scene? Editor: That's something I hadn’t considered. Now, I can see it. The piece does much more than just capturing a day in time. Curator: Precisely. By examining art within these broader contexts, we reveal power dynamics shaping even seemingly benign scenes. Editor: Thank you! I never would have thought about this picture in that way on my own.