'A Family' by Louis le Brocquy

In this painting, Le Brocquy suggests psychological unease, most obviously through the dejected body language of the father figure on the right, who sits with his back turned to his family. This atmosphere is reinforced by the surroundings which resemble a concrete bunker. However, the painting also contains a hopeful message: the child holds a bright bouquet which can be read as a symbol of both happiness and hope for the future. The theme of psychological angst foreshadows Le Brocquy’s own struggles with mental health in 1963 which he described as ‘a very bad year, a blind year’. However, it was also during this period that he visited Paris and saw Polynesian artwork which inspired his famous series of ‘portrait heads’.

Text by Shane Morrissy, Education Assistant, 2017

Read the National Gallery of Ireland's curatorial text about this work here.