The Brazen Serpent (1) 1998

Editor: This is Leon Kossoff's "The Brazen Serpent (1)." It's a chaotic composition, filled with figures in distress. I find it overwhelming. How do you interpret this work in relation to historical context and its potential impact? Curator: Given Kossoff's background, especially his experience during WWII, could this chaotic scene reflect anxieties about societal breakdown and recovery? The frenzied line work evokes immediate trauma, yet the biblical reference suggests a longer historical perspective on suffering and redemption. Do you see any hints of resolution within this visual turmoil? Editor: Not really resolution, but maybe a desperate plea for it. I didn't think about his wartime experiences influencing his work so directly. It's powerful to consider the layered meanings. Curator: Exactly. And that potential speaks to the power art possesses to address society. Kossoff's work encourages us to remember the past but ask what kind of future we should be building now.