This series of drawings portray the doomed invaders in Aeschylus' play "Seven Against Thebes." Polynices, a son of Oedipus, leads an attack on the city of Thebes - a champion to storm each gate. Eteocles, another son of Oedipus and king of Thebes, goes out with six of his own champions to defend the gates. None of the invaders, nor the king, survive the battle. While the king is born inside, the attackers are, by edict, to remain where they lie.
I intended these drawings to have a brutality about them (showing their mortality in their knees) but also an abstracted openness or lightness - suggesting the departure of their spirits. Each figure is tied to the next with an extended arm and another upon their chests, emphasizing their shared fate and oaths.
I intended these drawings to have a brutality about them (showing their mortality in their knees) but also an abstracted openness or lightness - suggesting the departure of their spirits. Each figure is tied to the next with an extended arm and another upon their chests, emphasizing their shared fate and oaths.
Polynices, charcoal on paper, 11 x 14"
Amphiaraus, charcoal on paper, 11 x 14"
Parthenopaeus, charcoal on paper, 11 x 14"
Hippomedon, charcoal on paper, 11 x 14"
Eteoclus, charcoal on paper, 11 x 14"
Capaneus, charcoal on paper, 11 x 14"
Tydeus, charcoal on paper, 11 x 14"