Circe 1973 - 1974

Curator: This is Dame Elisabeth Frink’s "Circe," held here at the Tate. Look closely at how she embodies this mythological sorceress. Editor: It’s striking, isn’t it? Stark. The way the pigs are drawn— almost like they’re fading in and out of reality. A kind of restless uncertainty. Curator: Indeed. Frink emphasizes the themes of transformation. The tension lies in the graphic quality between Circe and the swine, creating a psychological drama. Editor: I get a sense of power, but also a sort of vulnerability. There's an open-ended feeling. Curator: The formal qualities support that. The minimal line work suggests fluidity. It's as if Frink captures a moment of transience— a spell cast, or about to be. Editor: That about sums it up for me, a bewitching enigma. Curator: Yes, it is a powerful piece that remains open to interpretation.