Challenge to fight. Series "Shrovetide"

A shirtless man stands squarely in an empty space, trousers tucked into tall boots, his muscular torso bared and his head thrown back. His arms open wide, hands raised as if inviting a blow, mouth open mid-shout, body braced in a wide stance ready for a bare-knuckle brawl.

Rendered almost in grisaille, the palette holds warm ochre and flesh tones against a chalky grey-white ground, with thick white impasto catching the light on chest and hands. Loose, urgent brushstrokes and visible underdrawing give the figure a raw, unfinished energy, heightening the sense of aggression and confrontation.