A Confabulation of Dragons 

Scott Gustafson created this painting of dragons and humans, titled "A Confabulation of Dragons," at an undetermined date. Gustafson draws on images of dragons from European folklore. These tales often serve as a means to teach cultural values, like bravery and honesty. Here, we might ask, who holds the power? The dragons, with their size and strength, or the humans, with their apparent knowledge of magic? The painting invites us into an enchanted forest of mythical creatures, similar to those in fairy tales that have circulated in Western culture for centuries. In this setting, dragons aren’t necessarily the fearsome monsters that threaten society, but something else entirely, perhaps a symbol of harmony. The artist may be playing with those traditional roles. Are dragons meant to be evil? Are humans always good? To understand this artwork more fully, we might research the history of fairy tales and folklore in Western culture. This kind of contextual investigation helps us appreciate how artists engage with and transform the cultural values of their time.