Study for ‘The Hostesses’ c. 1959

Editor: Here we have William Roberts’ Study for ‘The Hostesses’ at the Tate. It's a graphite sketch, and I'm struck by how theatrical the composition feels, almost like a stage setting. What's your take on it? Curator: The figures do seem arranged, don’t they? Perhaps Roberts is inviting us to consider the performance of social interactions. Note how the grid underlies the sketch, a framework for his figures. Does that suggest to you a sense of constraint or control? Editor: I hadn't thought of that. The grid almost makes it feel like a blueprint. It gives a structure. Curator: Precisely! And what stories might these ‘hostesses’ tell, concealed behind their carefully constructed postures? Are we looking at a celebration, or something more subdued? It is a great piece to ponder! Editor: I never thought a simple sketch could have so many layers.