Artwork
Liberation
Liberation is a watercolor work on paper by the Social Realist artist Leslie Hurry. It dates from 1945 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
Liberation is a 1945 watercolour painting by Leslie Hurry, characterized by its dreamy, unfinished quality and chaotic composition.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts four winged figures in a state of turmoil, with attributes suggesting a mix of human and mythological identities. A figure with a spear and shield confronts others with a broken column, a crown, and a snake-like creature, implying a narrative of conflict and liberation.
Technique & Style
Hurry employed loose, sketchy lines and layered watercolour washes to achieve a sense of movement and depth. The use of chiaroscuro creates dramatic contrasts of light and shadow, while muted blues, greens, and grays are punctuated by bright reds and golds.
Artist & collection
Artist
Leslie Hurry spent his life hiding in plain sight: a quiet man who painted in bursts, switching from stage sets to watercolors like two different languages.
