Portrait of Somerset Maugham III 1953

Curator: This is Graham Sutherland's Portrait of Somerset Maugham, dating from about 1949. It's a small ink drawing, a study really, capturing the famous writer's likeness. Editor: My first impression is of a man weighed down by experience, perhaps a touch cynical. The lines are so etched, as if Sutherland is mapping the landscape of Maugham's life onto his face. Curator: Sutherland had a knack for capturing the essence of his sitters, and Maugham, of course, was a complex figure, grappling with his own identity and the moral ambiguities of his characters. This drawing seems to reflect that tension. It's a portrait that hints at the interiority of a man navigating societal expectations and personal desires. Editor: Absolutely. And given the context of Maugham's work, which often critiqued colonial structures and class divisions, it's fascinating to see that reflected in his portrait. Curator: It offers a glimpse into Maugham's psyche, filtered through Sutherland’s keen perception. Editor: A powerful intersection of artist and subject!