Dimensions: image: 51 x 72 mm
Copyright: CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 DEED, Photo: Tate
Editor: So, this small, unsigned print from the British School shows a chaotic scene with several figures tending to someone in a basket. The overall mood seems frantic and a bit humorous. What's your take on it? Curator: Well, it's a glimpse into a bygone era, isn’t it? The scene reminds me of something out of a Dickens novel, a blend of the absurd and the everyday. I see a reflection of societal anxieties around health and mortality, perhaps poking fun at medical practices of the time. The exaggeration in their expressions and poses is riotously funny. Editor: You think so? I just saw a very crowded picture. Curator: But isn't it wonderfully grotesque? It makes you wonder, what story is hidden in the details of this work? Editor: Yeah, it does! Thanks for pointing that out!