Lot Essay
In 1946, Sutherland wrote, 'About my thorn pictures; I can only give a clue, since the process of becoming involved with one's subject is always mysterious and not easy to explain ... I had been thinking of the Crucifixion (as you know I hope to attempt this subject for St Matthew's, Northampton) my mind became preoccupied with the idea of thorns (the crown of thorns) and wounds made by thorns. Then on going into the country I began to notice thorn trees and bushes. Especially against the sky, the thorns on the branches established a limit of aerial space. They were like dividers pricking out points in space in all directions, encompassing the air, as it were solid and tangible. I'd never noticed this before: but all kinds of ideas for pictures started to come into my mind. Apart from the large "Thorn Trees" I had several ideas for "Thorn Heads". A sort of 'pricking' and demarcation of a hollow headshaped space enclosed by the points. All the paintings I have done started off with drawings and sketches direct from nature' (see Exhibition catalogue, Graham Sutherland, New York, Bucholz Gallery, March 1946).