Houses of Parliament I 1967

Editor: This is Oskar Kokoschka's sketch, "Houses of Parliament I." It has a hazy, dreamlike quality. What stands out to you about this particular image? Curator: The rapid, almost frantic lines speak volumes. Note how Kokoschka doesn't just depict Parliament; he evokes its symbolic weight, its power. The Thames, usually a life-giving river, seems agitated, reflecting a turbulent era. Editor: So, it's not just a literal depiction? Curator: Not at all. Consider the cultural memory embedded in these buildings. Parliament represents law, order, but also conflict, debate. Kokoschka captures that tension, using the imagery of architecture to express emotional and political complexities. What do you think that means for us today? Editor: It makes me think about how places can hold so much history, and how artists can bring that to life. Curator: Exactly. It's about seeing beyond the surface and into the symbolic heart of a place.