Westminster 1973

Editor: This is Feliks Topolski's "Westminster," a print from the Tate Collections. It has this sketchy, almost dreamlike quality, contrasting the iconic landmarks with ordinary people. What kind of social commentary do you think Topolski might be making here? Curator: It's interesting you say "dreamlike." Topolski, as a social observer, often captured the frenetic energy of urban life. The looseness of the lines juxtaposed with the recognizable symbols of British power—Nelson's Column, Big Ben—suggests a commentary on the accessibility and perhaps even the fleeting nature of power in a modern society. Notice how the ordinary people are given as much weight in the image as the monuments. What does that tell you? Editor: I guess it democratizes the image, making the monuments less imposing, more integrated into the everyday lives of Londoners. I hadn't considered that. Curator: Precisely! It makes you wonder about the relationship between the symbols of authority and the people they're meant to represent. Food for thought!