The artwork titled “A Reading of Ovid (Tyros),” created in 1921 by Wyndham Lewis, belongs to both the Cubism and Expressionism art movements. It is classified as a genre painting.
The artwork depicts two men engaged in the act of reading. The cubist influence is evident in the geometric shapes that form the structure of the figures and objects within the painting. The vibrant and somewhat exaggerated colors, particularly the deep reds and cool blues, are characteristic of Expressionism, giving the piece an emotional intensity. The men’s faces are angular with sharp edges and are filled with expressive, distorted features that convey a sense of drama. The setting appears intimate and somewhat abstract, focusing on the interaction between the two figures and the book they are reading. The use of strong, angular lines and bold colors creates a dynamic and somewhat unsettling composition, reflecting the innovative spirit of the early 20th-century art movements.
