Totem c. 1913

Curator: Here we have Sir Jacob Epstein’s "Totem," part of the Tate collection. It's a watercolor and pencil drawing. The figures have a rough, spectral quality. Editor: It strikes me as both primitive and unsettling. The totem form immediately brings up questions of power dynamics and ritualistic practices. Curator: Absolutely. Epstein was deeply interested in non-Western art, particularly its spiritual and symbolic dimensions. This work evokes a sense of ancient, perhaps even suppressed, knowledge. Editor: And the layering of figures, the way they seem to almost merge, it speaks to the interconnectedness of humanity, but also the potential for oppression within those structures. The artist shows the human body as both fragile and powerful. Curator: It's a powerful meditation on the enduring human search for meaning. Editor: A haunting piece that really makes you think about societal structures and their effect on us.