Oedipus cursing his son Polynices
1786
watercolor
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1786
watercolor
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
This painting shows four dramatic figures in a dark, tangled scene. A bearded man on the right points angrily at a younger man kneeling in the center, who covers his face. Another figure crouches nearby, head bowed, while a standing figure in the background looks upward. The colors are mostly muted greens and browns, but the skin tones stand out in warm yellows and reds. The older man’s outstretched arm and the younger man’s despair suggest a moment of intense conflict. The scene feels chaotic, with swirling lines and dramatic lighting. Check out the Victoria and Albert Museum to see this painting in person.
