Lunar Disintegration 1937

Rockwell Kent created this lithograph, "Lunar Disintegration," at an unknown date, using black ink on paper. It depicts a planetary body, possibly the moon, in the process of breaking apart. Kent was a man of socialist convictions, and this image should be understood in the context of a long history of utopian and dystopian thinking. The dynamic scene carries both destructive and transformative meanings. We are shown the end of one world, but perhaps the beginning of another. The image suggests the awesome, terrifying power of nature, echoing the sublime landscapes painted by earlier artists, such as Caspar David Friedrich. To fully understand this artwork, we might look at science fiction writing in the 20th century or even contemporary political debates about nuclear armament. These resources will enable a richer appreciation of the image as a product of a specific time and set of cultural anxieties.