Study for "Thorn Head" [verso] 1949

This study of a "Thorn Head" was made by Graham Sutherland, and it's all about the tactile and the raw. You know, it's not just about seeing, it's about feeling the stickiness of charcoal on paper, the way it grabs and releases. Look at that oval shape, the way the charcoal almost vibrates with a life of its own. It's like Sutherland’s not just drawing but conjuring something thorny and alive. You can almost feel the pricks and pokes! The color is muted, earthy—it’s like he’s digging into the soil, pulling out something primal. This piece reminds me a little of Cy Twombly, in the way that he embraces the messy, the imperfect, the downright scribbly. It's like both artists are saying, "Hey, art isn't about perfection; it's about the journey, the fumble, the raw energy of making." I love that.