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This scene comprises only two characters, Oliver one of the miners from the group, and Ben Nicholson an artist who
we meet only in this particular scene. For the plot the scene is not essential and does not really move the story on any further, but it is very important for the exposition of Hall's most important themes. The scene is an excellent example of way Hall communicates his message and themes to an audience and the manner in which he uses stereotypical, stock characters in 'The Pitmen Painters'.
Ben Nicholson exists in the scene not so much as a developable character but as way to reflect some key themes in the play. this scene, very much like the play as a whole centres around contrasting assumptions. For example the way Nicholson takes art for granted and is incredibly cynical about it as well. When asked by Oliver how he got into art he replies 'Family trade, I suppose' as if he ha barely thought about the question before, that he simply became an artist because his father was one. This of course is a huge contrast to the way Oliver views art in a much deeper, more innocent way and is about to make a momentous decision in his life over whether or not to become a professional artist. Nicholson seems to devalue art: 'it's alright till she gets out the William Blake', as merely a profession, a way of making money whereas ironically the miners see it as a much more meaningful pursuit and hardly consider it being about money, or even as a job. Also the way he casually describes meeting Braque and Giacometti while travelling around Europe as if it means very little to him. Nicholson also takes living with Barbara Hepworth for granted. There seems to have been many women in Nicholson's life compared to no romantic relationships in Oliver's life so far an unlikely to be any in the future because he has been left to care for his sister's family. There is Nicholson's assumption of poverty 'bummed about Europe', 'we haven't got two sous to rub together' whereas of course Nicholson has never really known hardship as Oliver most probably has. Nicholson at first assumes that Oliver has come to work on the house as he looks working class and is probably wearing his miners uniform, overalls or something similar. These contrasting assumptions and presumptions highlight the huge gulf in the lives of these two characters, and the huge difference in class of these two characters.
Although some aspects of his character could be open to interpretation by the actor playing the part there are some aspects to his character which are constant, for example his 'biting of the hand that feeds him' specifically his contempt towards his superiors. When Nicholson introduces himself Oliver asks whether he is the famous artist and Nicholson replies: 'The dogsbody of the nouveaux riches – or at least their superannuated daughters'. He is referring of course to Helen Sutherland who is one of the 'superannuated daughters' of the 'nouveaux riches' industrialists whom he clearly dislikes. Ben Nicholson clearly the 'new money' being himself of aristocratic stock. This seems ironic because he confesses later that he lives off these patrons but is perfectly happy to insult them and their artistic tastes: 'She's prone to exaggerate her new finds' which is strange because he himself is one of her patronised artists.
A source of simple humour in the scene is Nicholson's unwitting self deprecation. 'It was pretty tough at first. I bummed about Europe...mostly lived off Winifred's inheritance' almost reduces anything meaningful Nicholson has said previously about being impressed by the miners' work to ridiculousness as he is describing travelling round Europe, living off someone else's money as being 'tough' to Oliver who spends most of his life down a dangerous mine earning very little money as well as having to support someone else's family.
Nicholson's ignorance of Oliver and his lifestyle is shown up again when he states 'that's what I envy about you chaps' meaning their artistic freedom and sense of community but clearly not thinking about their lives outside of art, i.e. it is fairly obvious that Nicholson does not want the lifestyle of a miner however much he complains about his own life. The statement: 'You've got it made' just seems completely patronising showing how naïve Nicholson actually is, thinking that somehow Oliver has an easier lifestyle than himself when Oliver can barely dream of what Nicholson has.
I think this conversation exists in the play to show why Oliver makes the decision not to become a professional artist and to highlight why the concept of the pitmen painters is so unique and great. The miner's do not share the bitterness of Ben Nicholson or his cynicism towards art. They altogether approach art in much more open minded and innocent way and because of this they do not take it for granted as a trained artist such as Nicholson does. This is the point of the scene to highlight these important themes, Nicholson himself is less of a character than a plot device, in effect allowing these themes to be reflected through him, and therefore communicated effectively to an audience because he is a stereotypical, stock character.
Published: April 26, 2009