The Three Bachelors 2018

Kent Monkman made this painting, "The Three Bachelors," using oil on canvas. It's a traditional material, of course, but here Monkman uses it to stage a rather unconventional scene. Notice the way the oil paint allows for a rich rendering of texture, especially in the bears' fur, and the almost luminous skin of the central figure. But it's not just about surface appearance; it’s about the history of painting itself. Monkman is clearly engaging with the Western art historical canon – think Titian or Rubens. Yet, he's also subverting it. By placing his gender-fluid alter ego, Miss Chief Eagle Testickle, in this setting with the bears, he’s challenging traditional notions of beauty, gender, and power. It’s a bold statement, using the very tools and language of the dominant culture to critique its assumptions. So next time you see an oil painting, don't just think about the image; consider the loaded history of the materials themselves.