Setting the Trap 

Eastman Johnson crafted "Setting the Trap," with oil on canvas. The composition's effectiveness lies in its play of light and shadow, where the warm hues of the boy and trap contrast against the cool, muted tones of the surrounding woods. Johnson masterfully employs a limited palette, creating a sense of depth and atmosphere. The subtle details of the rough brushstrokes and the grainy texture of the tree bark draw us into the intimate moment of the boy setting his trap. This interplay between foreground and background, figure and landscape, is crucial. The tree dominates as a symbol of nature's indifference to the small dramas of human life. The act of trapping, a confrontation between man and nature, challenges established meanings around human intervention and natural processes. "Setting the Trap" functions as a meditation on the complex relationship between humans and the environment.