Jason or Theseus 

Editor: Here we have Francis Oliver Finch’s “Jason or Theseus,” housed at the Tate. I’m immediately drawn to the contrasting light, and the figure in red seems almost swallowed by the forest. What do you see in this piece? Curator: It's like stepping into a forgotten myth, isn't it? The dark wood feels primordial, a place of trials. I see Finch wrestling with the weight of classical themes through a Romantic lens. The trees are these gaunt sentinels watching this hero, perhaps, in his moment of doubt. Does he look victorious to you? Editor: Not really. He seems contemplative, perhaps burdened by his quest. Curator: Exactly! It's that tension – between the grand narrative and the figure's very human vulnerability – that makes it so compelling, wouldn't you agree? Editor: Absolutely. I hadn't considered the vulnerability. Curator: Art is like holding up a mirror, sometimes we see our own reflections in the most unexpected places!