The artwork titled “Trees with G Shaped Form I”, created by artist Graham Sutherland in 1972, belongs to the movements of Surrealism and Expressionism and is categorized within the landscape genre. Sutherland, renowned for his distinctive approach to landscapes, presents a scene that transcends direct representation and instead conjures a more dreamlike or emotional take on a natural setting.
In this particular artwork, the viewer encounters a dark and seemingly enigmatic forest scene. Two robust trees flank the composition, their bark rendered in shimmering tones that suggest a fusion of light and texture. Between these arboreal sentinels, a large, globular shape occupies the heart of the piece, with the suggestion of a ‘G’ form twisting through its center. The colors are rich and contrasted, with the dark background giving way to the striking greens and light touches on the trees, which almost glow with an otherworldly essence.
The landscape seems to both embrace and challenge the viewer’s understanding of a traditional woodland environment. There is a sense of depth and complexity in the details, yet the defining elements resist simple interpretation, inviting the audience into a dialogue with the surreal qualities of nature as captured through Sutherland’s expressionistic brushstrokes. The forest’s inhabitants, small haunting figures and creatures scattered around, add to the sense of mystery and otherness that permeates the piece, making for an artwork that invites contemplation and interpretation.
