Description:

This jarring depiction of a distorted humanlike figure, decapitating a baby duck, is probably best described as a sensory projection, rather than a portrait. Although, the grotesque figure in this painting is undeniably the artist (portrayed in an emotional state).

Killing a Duck represents the emotional discomfort experienced during an unfortunate event, after the family dog broke a stray duckling's neck while playing.

This was a mercy killing, of course, to protect a beautiful living creature from further suffering. Although, the impression this moment left in Michael, despite what seemed like a clear moral imperative, left him feeling constitutionally conflicted and deformed; an experience that needed to be acknowledged, processed and released (for observation).