Boy Breaking a Stick c. 1905

Editor: This is Lucien Pissarro's "Boy Breaking a Stick," a small, striking print held at the Tate. There's a sense of determined effort in the boy's posture. What can you tell me about it? Curator: This image resonates with the theme of challenging established norms. The act of breaking, often seen as destructive, can also symbolize dismantling oppressive structures. How does this resonate with broader social movements of Pissarro’s time? Editor: That's fascinating! I hadn't considered the symbolic implications beyond the literal. Curator: Exactly. It invites us to question what is being broken and why, prompting a deeper engagement with power dynamics. Are we complicit in perpetuating such structures? Editor: It's powerful to think of such a simple image holding so much social commentary. Curator: Indeed, and it reminds us of the revolutionary potential within the everyday.