Becoming Gustav Metzger: Uncovering The Early Years, 1945-59

During its 45-year storage in an attic, this painting was accidentally marked with paint from another work against which it was closely stacked, yet it is typical of Metzger’s experimentalism that he allowed this addition to remain. Stylistically, it is also strikingly reminiscent of Bomberg’s idiosyncratic and expressive portraits, reflecting the strength of his influence over the young artist’s aesthetics and practice.