What do you see going on in this work of art? Is there a story depicted?

There are two people arm wrestling who we assume to be related because they have similar features. There are stars with letters/numbers on it. There are animals such as rams and birds.
We think the story that’s being told is wrestling with one’s identity when you’ve experienced multiple. The emotions on these people’s faces might not reflect how they truly feel. On the outside they look very stoic but we assume that they’re tired and wrestling with their emotions.

What different visual elements (ie: line, color, light, proportions, scale, composition, media type etc.) do you notice, and how do they help you make sense of the artwork?

There are multiple different elements. This includes colors, movement, textures, and shapes. We noticed the usage of shadow and light and dark colors bordering the canvas. These elements help us make sense of the artwork because we can infer that there’s an intention to bring out certain feelings. In this painting, we think that the dark colors in the border might signify being enclosed within something. It may also signify the outside world bringing the colors in the center down, and trying to destroy identity.

What choices do you think the museum made about the object’s display?

This art piece was shown without a frame, which we believe was a deliberate choice by the artist and museum. We think this art work was placed in this gallery because it fits in with the rest of the pieces, addressing breaking barriers and freedom. There is another art piece, Red Cloth, in the gallery on canvas that has chains on it. This piece was made with oil paint and also addresses brutality by taking references from the Holocaust.

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