Graham Sutherland

Portrait of Sommerset Maugham

1953
Original lithograph in black ink.
Signed in ballpoint ink, and dated 'Dec 22nd '54'.
Also inscribed: Trial Proof (in ink) and No 4 in pencil.

I intend to look at a pencil study Graham Sutherland produced of the famous writer Somerset Maughan. The piece shows Maughan as an elderly man, with an expression that conveys wisdom, intelligence, and a touch of humour. There appear to be deep laughter lines around his eyes.

Sutherland has managed to capture Maughan so well due to an extraordinarily high quality of observation. Sutherland has paid close attention to the surface of the skin creating a face very much like a rugged landscape. This is an interesting link between old, worn faces and landscapes. I believe Sutherland has made this link so intense by using light. Maughan’s face is lit strongly from the left hand side (the sitter’s right). The shading on the right accentuates the wrinkles and the sculptural qualities of his face, making it look more 3D.

However, to keep the study looking like a face Sutherland has used a series of lines and strokes to define the muscles.

The pencil study is a sketch, which was part of his research towards a formal portrait of Maughan.