Chained Beast 1967

Graham Sutherland created this print, "Chained Beast," employing lithography to capture a scene dominated by stark contrasts. The creature, rendered in hues of yellow and olive, is set against a deep black backdrop, immediately drawing our attention to its form. The composition is striking. The beast, constrained by chains, embodies a tension between power and confinement. Sutherland masterfully uses line and form to convey this struggle; the heavy lines define the beast's musculature, while the chains suggest control. The bars in the background also add to the feeling of entrapment. This work reflects a mid-century preoccupation with existential themes. The beast may be interpreted as a symbol of primal instincts or repressed desires. Its confinement prompts questions about the structures that limit freedom and the inner conflicts that constrain the self. Sutherland uses the formal elements of the artwork to invite us to confront these complex themes.