Richard VII 1967

Editor: So, this is Harold Cohen's "Richard VII" from the Tate. The halftone dots are a bit jarring, and the colors are…interesting. How do you interpret this reworking of a historical figure? Curator: The tension lies in Cohen’s deconstruction of power. He uses a printing technique often associated with mass production and commercial art to depict a historical figure, challenging traditional notions of authority and originality. Who gets remembered, and how, is a deeply political question. Editor: So, the medium is the message, in a way? The commodification of history? Curator: Precisely! And consider the choice of Richard VII. Was Cohen perhaps suggesting parallels between historical and contemporary forms of corruption or manipulation? Food for thought. Editor: That really reframes how I see it. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure. Hopefully, that gives you some tools to analyse this piece in the context of power, representation, and historical narratives.