Cephalus and Aurora (2) 1998

Curator: Leon Kossoff, born in 1926 and passing in 2019, created this etching, "Cephalus and Aurora (2)". It's part of the Tate Collection, measuring 429 by 657mm. Editor: It feels like a fever dream, all restless energy and blurred figures. The figures seem to be caught in some kind of struggle, or maybe a dance. Curator: The story of Cephalus and Aurora is one of divine love and human rejection. Aurora, the goddess of dawn, abducts the mortal Cephalus, but he longs for his wife. Editor: There's a real sense of yearning in it, though. You can feel that pull, the wanting to be somewhere else. Kossoff really captures that ache. Curator: Kossoff's focus on depicting the everyday realities of post-war London, makes this a surprising subject, steeped in classical mythology. Editor: It is fascinating how he merges something monumental with the mundane. It really stirs something in you. Curator: A compelling reminder of how artists can revitalize canonical tales. Editor: And how a simple etching can evoke such complex emotions.