![]() While the man himself still has a stoic authority, there was also sadness and a sense of defeat. The painting was black and rough, as if burnt, as if Churchill were emerging from the ruins of Europe, from a world not saved but shattered. It was a very unhappy painting of an old and grumpy Churchill that no longer seemed leavened by the humor and verbal creativity of the Churchill of legend. The final result was just that – a bold statement of truth. Sutherland made a decision to deliver not some visual blandishment, but the truth – and it was completely different from the idealist photograph that was beautifully taken by Yousuf Karsh in the dark days of the war. Churchill had suffered a stroke, which was concealed from the public, and was recovering from it. Another source were the photographs taken by Elsbeth Juda. ![]() The painter made numerous charcoal sketches of the Prime minister at a handful of sittings from August 1954, with a strong focus on his subject’s face and hands, before making oil studies. It was intended to be unveiled during Churchill’s 80th birthday ceremony at Westminster Hall. As such, and because he was at the peak of his fame in 1954, Sutherland was commissioned to paint a full-length portrait of Winston Churchill. The British artist wasn’t known just for his landscapes – he was also a famous portraitist. Graham Sutherland - Stone in Estuary, 1935 (Left) / Landscape with Rocks, 1944 (Right) - image courtesy of Lucy Johnson gallery Graham Sutherland and the Infamous Portrait of Winston Churchill Graham Sutherland would draw in his sketchbook at site, and would later work in studio, moving away from what his outdoor eye had seen He somewhat banished the dark and heavy tones which he had used earlier, though preserving the sharp black and white oppositions and using acid pinks and mauves, orange and light blue, emerald, chrome yellow, and scarlet. Over time, Sutherland began to reveal himself as a vivid colorist with an original sense of harmonies. Neo-romantic at the core, his work inspired others such as Paul Nash, John Craxton, and John Piper. Sutherland wasn’t the first to do so – many landscape artists before him had done pretty much the same, but his studio hand moved considerable further from what his outdoor eye had seen. He would sketch this on the spot, and later a studio painting would evolve. When working on landscapes, Sutherland’s working method included seizing on a detail such as a dead tree, boulder, thorn bush, everything that according to the artist, required a separate existence. The artist continued to draw inspiration from Pembrokeshire countryside and its enthralling anthropomorphic natural forms for the rest of his life. He worked as an illustrator until he visited Pembrokeshire, becoming completely captivated by it, and subsequently, turning to painting as a primary medium for his expression. However, the famous 1929 Wall Street Crash bankrupted many of his collectors, thus forcing Sutherland to turn to other sources of income. His early pastoral prints display the influence of the English Romantic Samuel Palmer, whereby prefiguring Sutherland’s later involvement within the Neo-Romantic movement in Britain. ![]() ![]() After specializing in engraving and etching, he began achieving fame as a printmaker. Sutherland’s artistic career included several significant changes in direction. Graham Sutherland - Western Hills, 1938-1941 - image via ft.com The Art of Graham Sutherland He was even commissioned to paint a portrait of Winston Churchill, in what turned out to be one of the most famous cases of the subject disliking the artwork, which eventually led to its destruction. From mid-1930’s, when he established his identity as a modern painter, to the 1950s, when his influence began to wane, there was a widespread consensus amongst fellow artists and critics that Sutherland was the most exciting and compelling voice in contemporary British painting. Despite some other names coming to mind before him when talking about the art history, such as David Hockney, Francis Bacon, or Lucian Freud, there was a time when Sutherland ruled undisputed. One of the leading British artists of the 20th century, Graham Sutherland was widely known for his prints and paintings. ![]()
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