Cormorant 1974

Curator: Dame Elisabeth Frink's lithograph, "Cormorant," presents the bird in stark relief against a pale blue sky and water. It's a striking image. Editor: Yes, the bird's almost confrontational, isn't it? Perched there, wings outstretched, a kind of defiant presence. Curator: Absolutely. Frink often explored themes of power and vulnerability in her work, especially her sculptures of male figures. This bird feels like a continuation of that. Editor: It does give me a feeling of solitude and resilience. There's something about the textures she's created, the way the ink catches the light, that feels really visceral. Like the bird is made of wind and sea. Curator: Her work often reflected post-war anxieties, I feel. The cormorant becomes an almost totemic figure, representing survival and the enduring power of nature. Editor: It’s fascinating how Frink captures that tension, the bird almost daring you to look away, demanding respect. Curator: The bird staring back at us as a society. Editor: Definitely food for thought.