Beauty queens: Study for ‘The Dressing Room’ c. 1966

Curator: This is William Roberts' "Beauty Queens: Study for 'The Dressing Room'," currently held at the Tate. Notice how the pencil lines and grid underlay expose the labor and planning involved in creating this image. Editor: It’s quite stark, even oppressive. The figures seem trapped, both by their activity and the composition itself. Curator: Indeed. The drawing itself provides a window into the processes of production and consumption of beauty within specific social conditions and contexts. Editor: These women almost resemble robotic figures more than idealized beauties. The geometric forms and somber tones strip away any sense of glamour. Curator: Roberts often focused on the daily lives of working-class individuals, and this study seems to reflect the mechanics of beauty as a form of labor itself. Editor: Perhaps. Ultimately, it's a study in contrasts—beauty and constraint, form and feeling. A great piece for discussion.