Study for ‘Horned Forms’ 1944

Curator: Here we have Graham Sutherland's "Study for 'Horned Forms'," currently held in the Tate Collections. Editor: There's something unsettling about this; the clashing colors create a sense of unease. Curator: Sutherland often explored themes of nature transformed by trauma, reflecting on the social and political anxieties of his time. Consider his wartime commissions, particularly. Editor: The layering of paint and ink suggests a process of building and obscuring, echoing themes of destruction and rebirth. What is this piece made out of? Curator: The support material is a mere 159 x 133 mm. Editor: It is small! I like how the bright colour reminds me of something organic, such as an animal's insides. Curator: Sutherland's work can be interpreted through a lens of post-war trauma. The "Horned Forms" might symbolize resilience or mutation in the face of adversity. Editor: It's interesting how such simple materials can evoke such complex emotions and narratives.