Silent Hunter 

Editor: This striking oil painting is entitled "Silent Hunter" by John Conrad Berkey. I’m immediately drawn to the dynamic energy and swirling forms depicting a fierce underwater battle. The composition and use of light create a strong sense of drama, as well as danger. What is your interpretation of it? Curator: This piece uses symbolism tied to cultural anxieties. We are given two recognizable flags: US and what appears to be Soviet. Can you see how those images become symbols? These signal immediate allegiances and historical narratives tied to Cold War tensions. Note the rockets underwater, creating lines of sight, pathways, that suggest more than just destruction, maybe ways forward. Editor: Ways forward, that’s interesting! Is it that a focus on advancement, even through adversarial, combative means is symbolic for “progress?” Or is this wishful thinking? Curator: Consider what symbols mean versus how we personally feel about them, that push and pull reveals meaning and feeling within a community, a nation. Here, fire doesn’t signal a destructive force as much as illumination in the murk of the deep sea. So how do you see fire employed here? Editor: You’re right. The bright oranges and yellows pop from all the blues and greens. It almost makes the missiles and explosions appear… beautiful, in a dark way. Thanks, I am seeing this from another angle. Curator: I hope this helped illustrate how understanding iconography unveils narrative and cultural layers. Every detail acts as a signifier, shaping our understanding.