Print 8 1972

Curator: Sidney Nolan’s “Print 8,” held here at the Tate, offers this somewhat brooding meditation on flora. I'm immediately struck by its somber mood. What is your first impression? Editor: Death, actually. There's something about those wilting petals, and the harsh, almost violent brushstrokes in the background, that suggests a vanitas still life. Curator: Interesting. For me, the flowers evoke more personal symbols of resilience and quiet beauty, pushing up through what could be the muck of life. The brushstrokes might reflect chaotic internal thoughts. Editor: I see the internal chaos, too. The flowers, though, their whiteness against that darkness is a traditional symbol of purity confronting corruption. Perhaps a reflection on the transience of beauty? Curator: Maybe so. It is good to remember that Nolan’s paintings contain hidden depths. This could be a beautiful yet painful, exploration of the contrast between nature and human darkness. Editor: Yes, and perhaps how those two are always intertwined, in our memory, in our culture, in the very symbols we use.