Lord Rosslyn 

Curator: Phil May's ink drawing, "Lord Rosslyn," presents a figure of undeniable poise. The minimalist approach is striking. Editor: There's a palpable sense of the ephemeral here, captured in the swift strokes and elegant elongation of the figure. He seems almost a ghost, or a memory. Curator: May was a master of capturing societal types, and Lord Rosslyn embodies a specific cultural moment—the aesthete, the dandy, idling with his cigarette holder. The smoke itself seems to question reality. Editor: Absolutely, and the linear quality of the drawing emphasizes this feeling. Note the confidence of the line work—how few strokes are needed to convey such presence. It’s an economical, almost brutal, rendering. Curator: These images carry within them a cultural memory, a sense of a world defined by class and leisure. The visual symbols, like the top hat and long coat, speak volumes about identity. Editor: The materiality itself is part of the message. The starkness of the ink on paper contributes to the portrait's immediacy. Considering the artist, and his talent, it is also a reminder of art's capacity to stop time.