P.C. 77 c. 1927

Editor: So, this is Edward Wolfe’s "P.C. 77," a rather curious painting of a policeman with a pint and a bottle. There's a strange mix of seriousness and relaxation here, don't you think? What’s your take on it? Curator: It’s the peculiar intimacy that grabs me, as if Wolfe caught him in a rare moment of private contemplation. That backdrop...is it a landscape? A half-remembered dream? And the way the light falls...it feels like Wolfe is inviting us to share a secret with this copper. Editor: A secret, huh? I was so focused on the beer! I didn't even consider the light or the landscape in the back. Curator: Absolutely! It's not just a portrait, it’s a study of contrasts, of public duty versus private self. Perhaps Wolfe wanted us to see the person beneath the uniform. Quite lovely, actually. Editor: I see it now, thanks!