Judgement of Solomon (2) 1998

Curator: Let's consider Leon Kossoff's "Judgement of Solomon (2)," held here at the Tate. Editor: It looks like a whirlwind distilled into a tiny frame! Chaotic, intense—you can almost hear the cries and whispers of the crowd. Curator: Kossoff, though born in London, often looked back to biblical scenes. He seems concerned with how authority, and the display of authority, shapes communities. Editor: He's captured something primal, hasn’t he? The raw, desperate energy around a life-or-death decision. It's unnerving. Curator: It certainly disrupts any sense of detached observation. The drama, the spectacle, and the public role of judgment itself are all on full display. Editor: This isn't just a story; it’s a glimpse into our own anxieties about justice, truth, and power, isn't it? The image stays with you long after you’ve moved on. Curator: Yes, Kossoff compels us to really think about it all. Editor: Absolutely. An etching like this is a testament to that.