Anabasis 1957

Curator: This compelling ink drawing is "Anabasis" by Benton Spruance, completed in 1957. What’s your initial take on it? Editor: My first impression is one of solemn movement. The procession of figures, rendered in sepia tones, suggests a journey, perhaps a forced march. It feels steeped in history, tinged with sorrow and a muted sense of resistance. Curator: The title itself, "Anabasis," is a Greek term meaning "the marching up," typically associated with Xenophon's account of the arduous journey of Greek mercenaries. Given this title, and the composition's overall feeling of weighted determination, could it be read as an archetype of collective striving? Editor: Absolutely, that’s a valid point, yet the imagery hints at the vulnerabilities beneath this collective strength. Many of these faces show anguish, which highlights the social costs. The dog in the foreground and weary postures bring up forced migrations throughout history. Curator: Interesting perspective! From the iconographic view, dogs can carry numerous symbols ranging from fidelity to guardianship to hunting, it would add layers. I would offer it may be worth exploring a historical connection within Spruance's world: What collective 'marching up' might he have witnessed in his time, and what echoes might linger from previous eras of upheaval? What continuity can be drawn from historical narrative to mid-20th century experiences? Editor: Thinking about his context, Spruance created this after World War II, a period saturated with displaced populations. The stark contrast in skin tones between figures could also point to existing tensions or hierarchy that create inequity within community as a product of war. These tensions may inform a deeper reading of cultural narratives during these historic shifts. Curator: True. We could perhaps explore themes of endurance within fractured societies throughout changing histories to analyze historical motifs or consider how the individual experiences and collective cultural expressions might create shifts of narratives? This adds another symbolic meaning for each group's psychological experiences. Editor: Precisely! In the same light, that opens a new dimension and suggests continuous cultural tension throughout historical conflicts, while opening paths for interpreting artistic or social meanings as symbols. Curator: It is intriguing how an historical symbol might offer insight on human conditions even beyond what one sees through our present lenses. Editor: Ultimately, its testament to power. Now what kind, or to whose favor, is up to us, to figure it out as we come up and keep marching forward.