Agony 1947

Arshile Gorky’s “Agony” (1947) is an abstract oil painting that reflects the artist’s pain and turmoil. It is a powerful example of Abstract Expressionism, a movement that emerged in the United States after World War II. The painting features an array of biomorphic shapes and forms in a vibrant color palette of reds, browns, and yellows. The chaotic composition, and the sense of fragmentation of the forms, seems to reflect the artist's state of mind. It is a poignant testament to the artist’s personal struggles, a reminder of his untimely death in 1948.