The Tower of Babel 1922

Editor: This is William Roberts' "The Tower of Babel," made of chalk and charcoal. The figures seem almost machine-like. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Well, the Tower of Babel is a potent symbol of human ambition and the fracturing of communication. The angular forms and the grid underlying the composition suggest a rigid, almost oppressive, structure. Does it feel utopian or dystopian to you? Editor: Dystopian, definitely. The grid makes it seem like everyone's trapped. Curator: Exactly! Roberts seems to be commenting on the psychological impact of industrialisation. Notice how the figures themselves seem like cogs in a machine. Editor: I never thought of it that way before. Curator: Symbols evolve, and understanding their evolution gives us a richer understanding of cultural memory. Editor: Thanks, I'll remember to look closer next time!