Railway Bridge, Mornington Crescent 1954

Editor: Here we have Leon Kossoff’s print, Railway Bridge, Mornington Crescent. It feels incredibly heavy, doesn't it? The stark black ink really emphasizes the industrial weight of the bridge. What visual symbols stand out to you in this print? Curator: The bridge itself, in its imposing solidity, becomes a symbol of connection, but also of division. Bridges join, yes, but they also dictate paths, force choices. Notice how Kossoff uses the black ink, almost like a shroud, doesn’t it evoke a sense of collective memory and the lingering impact of industrialization? Editor: It does. The darkness almost feels like a historical weight pressing down. I never thought about infrastructure carrying emotional baggage before. Curator: Indeed. What do you think the artist tries to communicate with his focus on such a monumental structure? Editor: Now I wonder if it’s about progress versus the past, or maybe the price we pay for advancement. Thanks, I'll never look at a bridge the same way again. Curator: Nor will I. The symbols we create shape our understanding, but are also shaped by it in turn.