During the late 1940s and early 1950s, Thorn Head was a subject that Sutherland chose to consistently re-work. This is a later and more refined example of his post-war exploration...
During the late 1940s and early 1950s, Thorn Head was a subject that Sutherland chose to consistently re-work. This is a later and more refined example of his post-war exploration of timeless motifs; the head fused with thorns is both a direct reference to the crucifixion and a visual manifestation of the tragedy of World War II. The obscure skeletal structure both exposes and conceals, creating an interplay between symbolism and figurative elements.