Old Lady and Two Men Possibly 1889 - 1890

Editor: This is Phil May's "Old Lady and Two Men" from the Tate Collection. It's a pretty simple drawing, but the body language of the figures is striking. What symbols or meanings do you think May was trying to convey here? Curator: Well, observe the old woman cloaked in dark, vertical lines. This isn't just clothing; it's a visual representation of mourning, of shadows clinging to her. But what do the men represent with their lighter attire and nonchalant attitudes? Are they oblivious to her grief, or perhaps even complicit in it? Editor: That's a darker reading than I initially considered. Curator: Visual symbols are never neutral. May uses the contrast to explore societal indifference, wouldn't you agree? Editor: I see your point! I’ll definitely look at line drawings differently now.