Pawn Can Aspire to Greatness

Susan Kandel’s review of artist Paul Kos (“A Clever Fellow,” Calendar July 23) was written with flair and elegance, depicting the artist’s work using the chess pawn as a symbol of “the weak and the disenfranchised.”

May we wonder in response if this metaphoric symbolism might not be turned upside down and used to refute the basic premise of the presentation?

While it is true that the pawn is the most insignificant piece on the chessboard at the start of a game, we must remember that by careful attention to its responsibilities and by moving forward one step at a time with prudence, the lonely pawn ultimately may reach the highest echelons of power and prestige, the promotion to the rank of queen (or any other piece with the exception of king).

The fact that the option of being elevated to the rank of king is denied to the pawn might be the subject of another artistic study and another review.

U. SIDNEY BATEMAN

Laguna Beach

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