“Six Men Getting Sick,” created by David Lynch in 1967, is an artwork that embodies elements of the Art Brut and Neo-Expressionism movements. This figurative piece powerfully represents the visceral experience of illness, capturing a sequence in which six men are depicted undergoing a process of becoming sick.
The artwork comprises a series of images, each of which conveys a distorted and unsettling depiction of male figures. Each sequence showcases the men in various stages of distress, with their expressions and bodily forms progressively being altered in disturbing manners. The detailed depictions employ a combination of semi-abstract and figurative elements, reflecting a vivid narrative that encapsulates revulsion and discomfort. The raw and raw approach, along with the expressive use of mixed media, underscores Lynch’s inclination towards surreal and often macabre themes. The dark, monochromatic tones transition into vivid and highly saturated hues, particularly reds and purples, that evoke an intense sense of psychological and physical unease.
