Trappers of Men 2006

Kent Monkman created this painting titled "Trappers of Men" with oil on canvas. Look at the way Monkman uses light, it's as if he's setting a stage. The Hudson River School painters come to mind with the way he renders the landscape, but with a twist. The impasto is subtle, almost a whisper, allowing the narrative to take center stage. Notice the figure in the center, bathed in an almost theatrical light. It's like a spotlight, drawing you in. That figure is rendered with such vibrant color against the muted tones of the landscape that it vibrates with energy. It is a focal point, yet also a question mark, inviting us to consider the layers of history and representation embedded in this work. Monkman, like other artists using historical pastiche, reminds us that art is always in conversation.