Canto XXI: [no title] 1982

Editor: This is Esq Tom Phillips' "Canto XXI," from the Tate collection. It's undated, but the etching feels chaotic and unsettling. All those figures… what do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a reflection of power structures, of how those in positions of authority often justify their actions through narratives, much like Dante's journey. The figures, caught in this tumultuous landscape, suggest the human cost of such justifications. Editor: So, it’s not just illustrating Dante’s Inferno, but also critiquing it? Curator: Precisely! Phillips is engaging with the text to examine broader themes of justice, morality, and the narratives we construct around power. What do you make of the figures wearing laurel wreaths? Editor: I hadn’t noticed that detail, but now I wonder if they symbolize a sort of twisted glory. Curator: Perhaps. It's a potent reminder that history is written by the victors, and that their version of events may not reflect the full truth. Editor: That's fascinating. I never considered the role of the artist to also be a form of cultural criticism. Curator: Art invites us to question, to challenge, and ultimately, to understand the world around us with greater clarity.