Geryon 1960

Ossip Zadkine's ‘Geryon’ emerges from a world of myth and raw emotion, rendered with crayon or conte. You can imagine Zadkine layering each stroke, coaxing this beastly figure into being through trial, error, and maybe a little madness. I can imagine Zadkine wrestling with this image, trying to pin down something both ancient and deeply personal. The colours – earthy browns, a sickly green, and haunted blues – they aren't just colours, they're feelings made visible. Look at the way he's trapped Geryon in this cage of splintered wood. You can almost feel the frustration, the confinement, but also the explosive energy trying to break free. It feels like Zadkine is in conversation with Picasso and the Cubists, as well as other artists plumbing the depths of mythology. These artists share ideas across time, sparking our creativity. 'Geryon' is a reminder that art isn't about answers, but about embracing the beautiful, messy questions.