Portrait of Nat Turner with the Head of his Master 2011

"Portrait of Nat Turner with the Head of his Master" (2011) by Kerry James Marshall is a powerful and unsettling oil painting. The work depicts Nat Turner, a historical figure who led a slave rebellion in Virginia in 1831, standing over the decapitated head of his former master. Marshall's use of a stark and graphic style emphasizes the violence and brutality of slavery, challenging viewers to confront the legacy of this dark chapter in American history. The painting's inclusion in the Museum of Contemporary Art's collection in Chicago reflects its significance in contemporary art and its ongoing dialogue on race and power in America.