And Death Shall Have No Dominion (trial proof) 1965

Editor: This is Ceri Richards' "And Death Shall Have No Dominion," a trial proof. The imagery is quite striking - an owl, a skull. What's your take on the symbolism here? Curator: It's a potent combination. The owl, often a symbol of wisdom or death, juxtaposed with the skull, an obvious memento mori. Richards seems to be exploring our complex relationship with mortality and memory. What feelings does it evoke for you? Editor: A sense of unease, but also resilience, given the title. Curator: Precisely. The title, borrowed from Dylan Thomas, suggests a defiance. The image, layered with symbols, becomes an act of resistance against the finality of death, a reclaiming of cultural narratives. Editor: I see it now, thanks for pointing that out. It's deeper than I initially thought. Curator: Indeed, art often is, inviting us to confront and reimagine our shared human experiences.