A figurative painting by Leon Underwood, 'Slash and Burn' depicts figures engaged in an agricultural practice, rendered in earthy tones and bold outlines.

Leon Underwood's 'Slash and Burn' depicts a group of figures engaged in an agricultural practice, likely in a tropical or subtropical setting. The painting's style is characterised by its simplified forms and bold outlines, reminiscent of both Expressionism and early Modernist approaches to representing the human figure. The palette is dominated by earthy tones, with browns and greens defining the figures and the surrounding vegetation. The composition shows a group of people moving through a landscape, with one figure carrying a bundle on their head and another holding a burning torch, suggesting the controlled burning of vegetation to clear land for cultivation. Smoke rises in the background, further reinforcing the theme of land clearing. The figures are stylised, with elongated limbs and simplified facial features, contributing to the painting's overall sense of movement and energy. The artist's use of light and shadow creates a sense of depth, drawing the viewer into the scene.