Outside Kilburn Underground [stage proof] 1984

Curator: This is Leon Kossoff's etching, "Outside Kilburn Underground [stage proof]". There's no definitive date associated with it. Editor: The heavy lines give it such a claustrophobic feeling; like the weight of the city is pressing down on everyone. Curator: Kossoff repeatedly returned to similar urban scenes. His focus was always on capturing the everyday experiences of Londoners. Editor: Look at the labor implied in that mark-making, though! The sheer physical effort to create that dense web of lines to build up the image. Curator: And this, remember, is a "stage proof", so it's a working document, revealing the process of artistic development. Editor: Right, a raw glimpse into his methods, the materiality of the lines themselves creating a sense of place. Curator: It's a fascinating insight into the artist's vision and the social context he sought to represent. Editor: An unflinching depiction of working-class life rendered through intense physical labor. I see a direct connection.