Study for ‘Bus Stop’ c. 1957

Curator: This is William Roberts's "Study for 'Bus Stop'," held in the Tate Collections. It appears to be undated. Editor: My first impression is of a frieze, a static gathering of people, all slightly monumental. Curator: Roberts, born in 1895, often depicted urban life. Thinking about the context, this echoes post-war Britain, reflecting social change and the everyday experiences of ordinary people, gendered expectations, and the working class. Editor: The figures, though stylized, remind me of early Christian art, like Byzantine mosaics. The hats, the set expressions—they become symbols of anonymity and the urban crowd. The grid seems to contain them. Curator: Exactly. The grid underlying the drawing emphasizes structure, control, and perhaps even the constraints placed upon these individuals by society and circumstance. Editor: Indeed, an orderly arrangement with a hidden story. Curator: Seeing how Roberts plays with form and representation here gives me plenty to consider about collective identity. Editor: For me, it’s the quiet symbolism that lingers.