Allegiance 2007

Bo Bartlett painted “Allegiance” in the style of American realism that emerged in the late 20th century. The child, standing barefoot on a horizon of sand, raises their right hand into the empty blue sky. The gesture clearly echoes the pledge of allegiance in the United States, a ritual performed daily by schoolchildren. Yet the child’s expression is ambiguous. The historical record shows us the pledge has, over time, been an important expression of national unity, but also compulsory, demanding conformity. How do we read the child's apparent lack of enthusiasm? Is it a critique of American political culture? Is it a commentary on the experience of childhood and socialisation? As an art historian, my job is to look at the history of symbols and the social contexts that shape their meanings. Only then can we begin to understand the complex relationship between art, culture, and power.