The artwork, “U Shaped Form with Blue Sky” by Graham Sutherland, created in 1976, is a reflection of the Surrealism art movement and falls under the genres of figurative and landscape. The painting showcases a unique blend of figuration and abstraction, which is characteristic of Sutherland’s exploration of natural forms and his penchant for surrealistic landscapes.
The artwork is marked by a bold interplay of colors and shapes. The dominant U-shaped form anchors the composition, its sinuous lines and perforations crafting an almost biomorphic presence. This form rests against a vivid blue sky, which occupies the upper half of the canvas, suggesting an openness or possibly an element of vastness and freedom, contrasting with the detailed intricacy of the form itself.
Below this central figure, Sutherland has rendered a disjointed landscape with a sense of estrangement from reality. There seems to be no strict adherence to perspective or scale, as surrealism often distorts such conventions to evoke dreamlike or imaginative scenarios. The use of color is also noteworthy: the contrast between the warm sandy tones of the foreground, the cool blues of the sky, and the lush greens of the arboreal elements creates a vibrant tension within the scene.
The U-shaped form appears as a portal or window, teetering on the edge of abstraction, through which we glimpse fragments of machinery or architecture, further enhancing the surreal quality of the painting. The precision of the outlines and forms against the fluidity of the brushstrokes in the sky and the background adds to the dynamic nature of the piece, engaging the viewer in a contemplative visual dialogue.
