Dimensions: image: 133 x 95 mm
Copyright: © The estate of James Boswell | CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 DEED, Photo: Tate
Curator: This intense image is titled "The Fall of London: Through the City," by James Boswell. Editor: It feels apocalyptic. That mass of people…it’s ominous, the city almost seems to be sinking into darkness behind them. Curator: Boswell, born in 1906, often depicted urban life and social commentary. The lack of precise dating for this image is interesting, isn't it? It allows the scene to resonate across various periods of unrest. Editor: Absolutely. The flags, the dense crowd, it evokes a sense of upheaval. And the building in the background, draped with what looks like mourning banners…it's all so symbolic. Is it London falling, or a particular ideal of London? Curator: Perhaps both? The symbolism of collapse is potent. Destruction also brings change, it challenges the status quo. This image, small as it is, packs a punch with its dark vision. Editor: Indeed. It makes me think about how cities, throughout history, have been both symbols of power and vulnerable entities.
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http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/boswell-the-fall-of-london-through-the-city-p11658
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This is one of eight small lithographs Boswell made in 1933 describing The Fall of London. Ron Heisler believes that they were originally conceived for a book by Frank McIlraith and Roy Connolly called Invasion From The Air which describes a Fascist invasion of England (information from Ron Heisler, August 2003). The theme of the book, which was published in 1934, is reminiscent of Boswell’s prints, which illustrate both popular uprisings in the City of London and horrific scenes of the city in ruins. In this dense image Boswell portrays an insurrection in the streets of London, the revolutionaries waving flags and banners in defiance of the authorities. The insurgents have taken the building and a figure stands on the balcony, his arm raised above his head as he addresses the crowd. The bright light cast by the search beams contrasts with the forbidding sky and gloomy buildings, including the Monument, heightening the drama and chaos of the scene.
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