The Triumph of Pan (4) 1998

Curator: Here we have Leon Kossoff's etching, "The Triumph of Pan (4)", now part of the Tate Collections. Editor: My first thought? Chaotic joy. It feels like a wild bacchanal bursting from the frame, like an ancient myth made modern. Curator: Yes, Kossoff often revisited classical themes, filtering them through a distinctly urban lens. The density of the lines and frenetic energy perhaps echo the chaos of city life? Editor: Absolutely, there's a raw, untamed quality here. Look at the figures, so full of unrestrained movement, almost dissolving into the landscape. Curator: And the choice of Pan, a deity associated with nature, sexuality, and, at times, even panic, is telling. It suggests a primal force breaking through the surface. Editor: It's like watching a fever dream unfold, a messy, beautiful explosion of life. Makes you want to join the revelry, or at least run for the hills! Curator: It certainly reminds us of the enduring power of myth and its ability to resonate through the ages. Editor: Indeed, Kossoff has captured something truly timeless in this frenzy of ink.