Undergrowth 1941

Editor: So, this is Eliot Hodgkin's 'Undergrowth' from the Tate. It’s a very dense, almost claustrophobic view of nature, painted with incredible detail. What is your interpretation of this work? Curator: It's fascinating how Hodgkin focuses on the mundane. He elevates the undergrowth, typically unseen, to the forefront. Consider the social context; post-war Britain saw a renewed interest in the pastoral, but often idealized. Hodgkin presents a raw, less romantic view, perhaps reflecting a changing relationship with the land. Editor: That's an interesting point. It seems to push against the conventional landscape art of the time. Curator: Exactly. Hodgkin's choice of subject matter and his almost scientific rendering challenge established hierarchies within art and society's perception of nature itself. It invites us to consider what we value and what we overlook. Editor: I never thought about it that way. I see so much more in it now. Curator: And that's the beauty of art, isn’t it?