George Condo's Compression paintings, a series created in 2011, showcase the artist's exploration into blending acrylic, charcoal, and pastel on linen. The series, part of his broader Drawing Paintings exhibition, demonstrates Condo's continued interest in merging different materials and techniques to produce works that straddle the boundary between drawing and painting. This innovative approach is evident in pieces such as "Compression VI," "Purple Compression," "Black and Red Compression," among others, all varying in size but unified in their method of creation and thematic exploration​ (Skarstedt)​.

"Compression IV" is a notable piece within this series, characterized by its use of acrylic, charcoal, and pastel on linen, presented in an artist-chosen frame. The dimensions of this work, like others in the series, highlight Condo's grand scale of artistic vision—measuring 191.5 by 196.5 cm, it invites viewers to immerse themselves in the complex interplay of textures and forms​ (Artsy)​.

The Compression series exemplifies Condo's fascination with the human psyche, expressed through abstract and figurative elements that collide and intertwine across the canvas. These paintings, with their layered application of media and nuanced color palettes, continue to probe the boundaries of Condo's "Artificial Realism." This term, coined by the artist himself, describes his method of incorporating aesthetic strategies from a variety of historical movements, ranging from the Italian Renaissance to Pop Art, and recontextualizing them within a contemporary framework​ (Skarstedt)​.

Condo's work in the Compression series, along with his broader oeuvre, challenges traditional classifications of high and low art, merging the grotesque with the beautiful in a manner that is both unsettling and captivating. Through these works, Condo invites viewers to reconsider the conventional boundaries of portraiture and abstraction, offering a unique lens through which to view the complexity of human emotion and perception.