Battle at Sunset with the God of Maize (Composition No. 1) 1936

Arshile Gorky's "Battle at Sunset with the God of Maize (Composition No. 1)" (1936) is a small, vibrant oil painting that is characteristic of Gorky’s early abstract style. The work’s title reflects his interest in mythology and folklore, a theme that would become increasingly important in his work. The painting features a swirling composition of biomorphic forms, evocative of birds in flight, against a bright yellow background. The forms are rendered in bold colors, including red, black, white, and purple, giving the impression of dynamism and movement. The work is reminiscent of the "biomorphic abstraction" that was popular among Surrealist painters in the 1930s.