Dimensions: image: 41 x 42 mm
Copyright: CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 DEED, Photo: Tate
Editor: This tiny ink drawing by an unknown British School artist shows one fellow kicking the hat right off another's head, all inside what looks like a broken shell. It feels both comic and a little violent. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I'm tickled by the sheer absurdity. The shell, or whatever that frame is, almost suggests a stage, doesn’t it? It's a tiny drama frozen in ink. I imagine a world of social satire and playful spite, where a swift kick is the ultimate punchline. How do you read their expressions? Editor: The guy getting kicked looks genuinely shocked. Maybe it's a commentary on social hierarchies? Curator: Precisely. It could be a dig at authority, a dance of disrespect. It definitely makes me wonder about the story behind this little scene. Perhaps it is a scene from a play or novel? Editor: I didn't think of that! It’s interesting to imagine this as a snippet from a larger story. Curator: Exactly! And it proves even the smallest sketch can hold a universe of possibilities.