Paul DuFeu 1972

Curator: This is Barry Flanagan's portrait of Paul DuFeu, held in the Tate Collections. It presents a striking figure, almost like a quick sketch with raw, immediate lines. Editor: I’m struck by how the simplicity of the etching creates a sense of intimacy. The visible process, those direct lines, feels very personal and immediate. Curator: Absolutely. Flanagan seems less concerned with traditional portraiture and more with the labor of its creation. The minimal use of line is deliberate, almost challenging notions of 'finish' and elevating the printmaking process itself. Editor: And the subject, the mug in hand, the casualness—it suggests a certain level of everydayness breaking the conventional mold of art production and consumption. It makes you wonder about their relationship, and about whose hand made the cup. Curator: Yes, it’s almost a celebration of the mundane made artistic, wouldn't you say? Editor: Indeed. A humble perspective that draws attention to the value found in simple interactions.