Illustration for ‘Fantasy for Flute’ by David Roberts c. 1942

Curator: This is William Roberts' Illustration for ‘Fantasy for Flute’ by David Roberts, currently residing in the Tate Collections. Editor: What immediately strikes me is the human figure’s dejection, juxtaposed against the excited simian figures. The composition is so stark and alienating. Curator: Roberts has a way of playing with form. Note the reduction to near geometric shapes, the parallel hatching creating volume and texture. The palette remains monochromatic, yet the visual impact is significant. Editor: Yes, the stark rendering is powerful. The apes in suits, pointing and gesturing – they evoke a sense of social performance. Is the seated figure representing a loss of innocence, a pre-lapsarian state perhaps? Curator: Intriguing. Roberts’ style often employs repetitive motifs, as we see here. Does the human figure, by its pose, call forth familiar images of suffering humanity, or perhaps a more immediate, modern sense of alienation? Editor: I see the weight of social expectation and judgment bearing down on this lone figure. A potent, if unsettling, commentary on belonging. Curator: A fascinating work, indeed, in its construction and deeper resonances. Editor: Quite so. It certainly sticks with you.