Marathon
- Artist: Nicolas de Stael
- Date: 1948
- Medium: Oil paint on canvas
- Dimensions: support: 803 x 648 mm
- Museum: Tate Modern
- Collection record: Tate Modern website
Listen to the free audio guide
About this artwork
This is the “Marathon” by Nicolas de Staël. Painted in 1948, it’s a bold splash of oil on canvas that feels almost like a piece of fabric caught in motion. De Staël used the front of a printed cloth as his canvas, letting the repeating pattern set a rhythm that he then exploded into color and irregular shapes. The result is a kinetic burst of emotion—an abstract dialogue of anxiety, despair, and raw energy.
The title, “Marathon,” hints at his own long, hard run toward a distinct artistic voice, much like a runner pushing past fatigue. Think of the canvas as a track where color and form sprint across, giving us a glimpse of a painter in mid‑journey, constantly pushing the limits of surface and meaning.
See it in person
Marathon is in the collection of Tate Modern on Bankside, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
