The Clerk’s Tale 1972

Curator: Dame Elisabeth Frink, born in 1930, created this intriguing print titled "The Clerk's Tale." The dimensions are approximately 500 by 347 millimeters. Editor: My first impression is of starkness. The contrast between the white figures and the mottled gray background creates a rather unsettling mood. Curator: The interplay of positive and negative space is key. The figures are defined by their absence of ink, almost as if they've been carved out of the landscape. Editor: I see the equestrian figure as a representation of power, perhaps, against the more vulnerable figure leading the deer. Is there a social narrative embedded in the work? Curator: Frink was often concerned with the human condition and the impact of authority. The facelessness of the figures lends them a universal quality, speaking to broader historical themes of dominance and innocence. Editor: Considering Frink’s biography, her childhood in rural England during the war, her interest in nature and these faceless humans, I see her artwork as reflecting human form as a landscape of emotions. Curator: Indeed, and Frink's masterful handling of the etching process further enriches our understanding. The varying tones create an atmosphere of both beauty and unease. Editor: A thought-provoking composition; it invites us to reflect on the complexities of power and vulnerability within the human experience.