Medium: Graphite on paper
Size: 12" x 9"
Year: 2021
Shaitan: The Accuser is a dynamic and allegorical graphite drawing by Markham, created in 2021. The composition channels the visual power of religious iconography and street-level moral drama, rendered in the artist’s signature raw linework and expressive form.
At the heart of the scene stands a masked, crown-like figure bearing down with a sharp, accusatory gesture toward a fallen demon-like entity. The figure on the ground, clawed and winged, recoils in anguish. Its contorted pose and howling mouth communicate shame, pain, or perhaps protest, caught mid-condemnation.
Behind Shaitan, a cluster of robed, watchful men peer out from the shadows—witnesses, judges, or simply the crowd. To the left, a lone detail offers a surreal touch: a cart labeled “SIN” overflowing with spheres—perhaps fruit, temptation, or the burden of guilt—emphasizing the piece’s biting critique on moral spectacle and public judgment.
The drawing’s harsh, linear architectural framing and sharp tonal contrasts add a theatrical quality to the moral tableau, elevating it beyond a simple confrontation into a narrative about power, scapegoating, and religious hypocrisy.
This original work is in new condition, hand-signed by the artist in the lower corner, and comes beautifully framed, wired and ready to hang. A certificate of authenticity is included.
Shaitan: The Accuser is an evocative addition to any collection that appreciates the intersection of religion, folklore, and social commentary—delivered through the lens of gothic surrealism.