The Treaty 

Here, we see Mary Jane Ansell’s painting titled ‘The Treaty’. The use of oil paint lends the subject a soft, almost ethereal quality. The figure, a young woman, sits centrally, with the British flag looming behind her. The composition immediately draws attention to the tension between the figure’s serene composure and the symbolic weight of the flag, and the formal elements create a sense of unease. The bold red of the jacket contrasts starkly with the muted background, highlighting a sense of conflict or contradiction. Consider how the artist uses color, shape, and form to investigate identity, power, and representation. The precise details and textures throughout, combined with the semiotic system of signs, invites us to question fixed meanings. The painting is not merely a visual representation but an exploration into the complexities of cultural narratives. Through careful arrangement of color, symbol, and form, Ansell challenges us to think critically about how we interpret the visual world around us.