El grito nº 3 1983

Oswaldo Guayasamin made this oil painting, “El grito nº 3,” with a palette that's almost monochromatic, like a faded photograph dredged up from a bad dream. There’s a real sense of process here, the way the paint is applied, with visible brushstrokes that build up the form, layer by layer, it’s all part of the story. The materiality is striking. The paint isn’t overly thick, but it has a tangible presence. The surface isn’t smooth; you can see the artist's hand in the way the colors blend. Take a look at the way the hand presses against the face, the fingers splayed out. The lines are thick, raw, almost violent. And that single, staring eye – a vortex of black that pulls you in. Guayasamin, like Goya, isn't afraid to confront the darkness. He makes visible the impact of suffering and injustice on the human form.