Portrait of Dag Hammarskjold 1962

Editor: This is Ben Shahn's 1962 acrylic-on-paper painting, "Portrait of Dag Hammarskjold." It’s really quite haunting. There’s a heaviness to the portrait that makes me a bit uneasy. What do you see in this piece? Curator: It's essential to view this portrait through a socio-political lens. Shahn painted this the year after Hammarskjold's suspicious death. How do we interpret the swirling storm clouds above Hammarskjold's head, knowing the conspiracies surrounding his plane crash in the Congo? Does it represent political turmoil? Colonialist greed? Failed peacekeeping efforts? Editor: That’s fascinating! I hadn’t considered the historical context of his death when looking at the image. I was more focused on the textural aspects and the overall melancholy. Curator: Exactly! Shahn’s choice of muted colors and frenetic brushstrokes mirrors the instability and anxiety of the Cold War era. Even the skyscrapers visible through the window become symbolic. Do they represent a hope for the future, or a looming threat? Editor: So the painting really serves as a commentary on the political landscape of the time? It makes me consider how portraits can be about more than just the individual. Curator: Precisely. Shahn asks us to confront uncomfortable truths about power, accountability, and international relations. And in doing so, questions the myth of neutrality that surrounded the UN during this era. Editor: I'll definitely look at art differently now, paying closer attention to historical and social contexts. Curator: Art serves as a lens through which we can investigate our histories and political realities. That awareness deepens our understanding of not only the artwork but also of ourselves.