Coffee Stall. Verso: Scenes with Figures c. 1930

Editor: This is Edward Burra's "Coffee Stall. Verso: Scenes with Figures," a drawing with no firm date. It feels like a stage design or tableau, a sketch of figures in anticipation. What do you notice about the composition? Curator: The composition is essentially divided; the eye struggles to find a focal point. Consider the artist's use of line—nervous, unresolved, and creating ambiguous forms. Do you find this adds to the expressive qualities of the work? Editor: I see what you mean. It's like the figures are emerging from a fog, their identities uncertain. It does create a kind of tension. Thanks for helping me see that. Curator: Indeed, the tension resides within the intrinsic elements themselves, providing the work with a unique and captivating depth. A valuable lesson in the power of form.