Working Drawing for ‘Primrose Hill’ 1968

Editor: This is Frank Auerbach's "Working Drawing for 'Primrose Hill'," and it looks like a whirlwind of charcoal lines on paper. It’s so gestural and raw. What do you make of its historical significance? Curator: Well, consider Auerbach's position. As a Jewish émigré from Nazi Germany, he sought refuge in London. His art wasn't just about landscapes; it was about claiming space, rebuilding a world through the very act of drawing. Editor: So, the frenetic energy might reflect his personal history? Curator: Precisely. Post-war London was a place of reconstruction, and Auerbach's intense, almost violent application of charcoal mirrored that struggle to create anew. This drawing becomes a document of that cultural and personal rebuilding. Editor: That reframes the whole image for me. Thanks! Curator: It’s a powerful reminder of how art and life intertwine.