Small Head of E.O.W. 1957 - 1958

Curator: Oh, wow. That's...intense. It feels like looking at an archaeological dig site of a face. Editor: Indeed. Here we have Frank Auerbach's "Small Head of E.O.W." currently residing in the Tate Collections. Auerbach, born in 1931, is known for his intensely worked surfaces. Curator: Worked is definitely the word! The sheer thickness of the paint, the layering... it's almost sculptural. I wonder what E.O.W. thought about sitting for this? It must have been a process. Editor: Considering Auerbach's process, likely a long one. These portraits are not just representations, but records of time, relationship, and a deep engagement with materiality. The earth tones evoke a sense of groundedness. Curator: It reminds me of memory, how it's built up layer by layer, often obscuring the original image. It's less about likeness and more about the act of remembering, or even excavating someone. Editor: Precisely. The weight of history, the palimpsest of experience...it speaks volumes about the human condition. I think Auerbach is inviting us to consider the burden of representation itself. Curator: That’s right. It's a powerful, unsettling work. Editor: Yes, food for thought.