Study for Artist and Model 2003

Kent Monkman’s ‘Study for Artist and Model’ is an oil painting that sets up a fascinating visual dialogue, sort of like a historical mashup. The approach to mark-making feels meticulous, almost academic, yet the scene itself is anything but traditional. Look at how Monkman renders the foliage with such detail, creating a sense of depth and texture that draws you into the landscape. The muted greens and browns give it a classical feel, like something from the Hudson River School, but then you notice the figures and realize this ain’t your grandma’s landscape painting. There's this tension between the painterly technique and the subject matter, which is what makes Monkman’s work so compelling. He’s not just painting pretty pictures; he’s using art history as a way to explore identity, representation, and the complex relationship between colonizer and colonized. It reminds me a bit of Yinka Shonibare's work, how he uses historical styles to question contemporary issues. It’s all about layers, you know? Ambiguity and multiplicity, that's where the good stuff is.