Walking the Dog 1976 - 1979

Curator: This is Keith Arnatt’s photograph, “Walking the Dog,” and it is held in the Tate Collections. Editor: It strikes me as a very staged, self-aware portrait of a man and his rather noble-looking dog. A little bit formal, a little bit cheeky, perhaps? Curator: The dog becomes a symbol, perhaps of domesticated nature, loyalty, or even the artist's own "pet" ideas. Editor: I like how the greyscale flattens everything, so the layers of landscape become almost like theatrical backdrops. Arnatt feels a bit like he's in a play. Curator: Absolutely. Consider how the town behind them acts almost like a cultural memory, a palimpsest of human habitation. Editor: I almost want to giggle, but there is something tender about this man, standing very proper with his pal. Almost as if he's trying to contain some unruly thought. Curator: It invites contemplation on how we position ourselves within landscapes and the stories we tell about belonging. Editor: Yes, I think it's both funny and quietly moving. That is some tricky tonal balancing to achieve.