“The Tortured,” created by Oswaldo Guayasamin in 1977, is an exceptional piece of artwork that stands as a representative of the Expressionism art movement. This genre painting vividly portrays raw and intense emotions through its composition and style.
The artwork presents three central figures whose skeletal forms and distorted postures invoke a harrowing sense of suffering and anguish. These figures appear fragmented and contorted, with exaggerated and elongated limbs that contribute to the theme of torment depicted by the artist. The predominant use of dark, somber tones, punctuated by stark reds and whites, further enhances the atmosphere of distress and pain. The central figure in the triptych is particularly striking, with a heart-like shape emphasized in the torso area, suggesting profound emotional turmoil. The chaotic arrangement of the figures and the expressive brushstrokes underscore the essence of human agony and despair, inviting viewers to contemplate the depths of suffering portrayed in the artwork.
