Pendle Witches 1996

Curator: Paula Rego's etching, "Pendle Witches," currently residing in the Tate Collections, immediately strikes me with its stark, almost unsettling composition. Editor: There's a vulnerability but also a defiance, isn't there? The central figure in her bathing suit seems almost exposed, but the knit cap suggests something else entirely. Curator: Yes, the tension between figure and ground is palpable. The artist uses line to create a sense of depth, but the space remains ambiguous. Editor: Rego always explored power dynamics, and it is thought that here, she reclaims the narrative of women persecuted as witches, portraying them with agency. The unsettling quality speaks to the historical trauma and ongoing struggles related to female bodies and power. Curator: Indeed. The formal elements—the line, the composition—enhance this reading. Editor: It reframes a historical injustice, doesn’t it? Curator: Precisely. I can’t help but wonder if the artist was thinking about the way the line can either liberate or confine. Editor: I’m left contemplating the power of art to resurrect silenced voices.