6 OF 38

Samuel Beckett

6 of 38 portraits of Samuel Beckett

Samuel Beckett

by Tom Phillips
coloured lithograph, 1984
27 7/8 in. x 16 7/8 in. (708 mm x 428 mm)
Purchased, 1985
Primary Collection
NPG 6467

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Sitterback to top

Samuel Barclay Beckett (1906-1989), Playwright. Sitter in 38 portraits.

Artistback to top

Tom Phillips (1937-), Artist. Artist of 22 portraits, Sitter in 4 portraits.

This portraitback to top

Tom Phillips's portrait of Beckett shows him towards the end of his life, during a rehearsal for Waiting for Godot, the Irish playwright's best known work. Expressing his stark view of the human condition, the play was first performed in Paris in 1953 and London in 1955. The line 'No matter try again fail again fail better' is from Beckett's Worstword Ho.