The title also acts as a metaphor for Marwan’s particular painting technique, which is based on repetition and labour. His name is thus given in reference to any monumental and endless task. The title suggests the painting to be a portrait of Sisyphus, the character from ancient Greek mythology who, according to Homer’s Odyssey (8th Century BC), was a king punished by the gods who sentenced him to repeatedly roll a huge boulder up a hill. The work has many layers of paint that have been built up slowly over a number of years the artist has stated that there are as many as thirty paintings underneath its finished surface (in conversation with Tate curator Kyla McDonald, September 2010). The background of the painting is very dark, almost black, allowing the more coloured face to stand out. The image is made up of large, rough blocks of coloured paint, applied one upon the other to form the basic shape of the head. It is just possible to make out the darker outline of the eyes, nose and eyebrows, while a lighter area at the bottom of the painting suggests the sitter’s neck and shoulders. Summary Sisyphus, The Wall ( Sisyphus, Al-Jidar) is a large square painting of a figure’s head, the features of which are difficult to read.