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

Nature in its perfect state being scarred and burnt. It is a representation of destruction of the native lands of America by European colonization.

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?

It is a large work, and it jumps out at you because of it’s warped shape. It’s many puncture wounds give this painting a depth beyond comparison. The art is the representation of the painting, but not the painting itself.

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

This destroyed painting is next to ancient artifacts and intact paintings. Below the painting, there is the debris that originally came from the painting. By juxtaposing this destroyed piece with intact paintings and artifacts, it jumps out and means more.

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