Masquerade in a Landscape 

Wyndham Lewis painted ‘Masquerade in a Landscape’ in 1938. It presents a scene where figures and urban architectural elements interlock in a complex composition. The artwork immediately strikes you with its geometric shapes, angular lines, and a muted yet contrasting color palette. Lewis employs a structure where human forms are almost architectural; they merge with their surroundings. The palette of ochres, browns, and blacks is punctuated by vivid accents of red and blue that draw the eye across the canvas. This deliberate arrangement encourages the viewer to deconstruct how meaning is constructed within the painting. The urban landscape in the background, rendered with hard edges and simplified forms, emphasizes a sense of alienation. The title suggests the figures are in disguise, but what are they hiding? Perhaps Lewis is prompting us to question the roles we perform in society, and how these roles define our perception of reality. Through its construction, the artwork encourages ongoing interpretation of the urban experience.