“The Origins of the Land,” created by Graham Sutherland in 1951, is an emblematic piece of symbolic painting associated with the art movements of Expressionism and Surrealism.
The artwork features an assemblage of abstract and symbolic forms rendered in a subdued palette of earthy tones and purples, set against a muted orange backdrop. The composition is characterized by a series of interconnected and overlapping shapes, which evoke a sense of organic growth and transformation. The abstract figures in the artwork, resembling both natural and fantastical elements, convey a surrealistic interpretation of the origins of the land. The complex interplay of lines and forms suggests a deep, almost mythical narrative, consistent with the stylistic influences of Expressionism and Surrealism.
