The Scales 1961 - 1962

Curator: Oh, my initial sense is one of precarious balance, or perhaps imbalance. The yellow feels acidic, almost cautionary. Editor: We're looking at "The Scales," painted by Graham Sutherland, though the date is unknown. What strikes me is Sutherland's application of paint, notice how the thick impasto creates a tactile surface, almost sculptural. It emphasizes the objecthood of the painting itself. Curator: I can't help but see Sutherland wrestling with weight, literally and metaphorically. The window hints at a world outside, a different plane. Editor: It's fascinating to consider how Sutherland, in this period, engaged with industrial forms, transforming functional objects into abstracted, almost surreal compositions. This clearly moves beyond representation. Curator: I agree. He’s delving into something more profound, an inner landscape made tangible. Editor: Ultimately, "The Scales," for me, is about Sutherland's exploration of the inherent tensions within artistic production itself. Curator: And perhaps, about the delicate balance within our own perceptions of reality.