Morning after the Flood 1928

Editor: Here we have Mary Adshead’s "Morning after the Flood", currently housed at the Tate. I’m struck by the figures and animals; they feel both classical and unsettling. How do you interpret this work within its historical context? Curator: It's interesting you say unsettling. The work likely alludes to the biblical narrative of Noah's Ark, but Adshead presents a post-cataclysmic world ripe for reconstruction. The presence of kangaroos, for example, disrupts expectations, gesturing towards the British Empire and its global reach. Editor: So, it’s not just a simple retelling of the flood story? Curator: Not at all! Adshead, working in the interwar period, uses this imagery to explore themes of rebuilding, social order, and perhaps even a commentary on the shifting geopolitical landscape of the time. How does that awareness change your initial reading? Editor: I see it now; the painting feels less like a quaint scene and more like a reflection on societal anxieties and imperial power. Thanks for illuminating that context! Curator: Indeed, considering art's role in shaping public consciousness is crucial. It's been a thought-provoking discussion!