The Massacre of the Innocents 2015

Kent Monkman made "The Massacre of the Innocents," and what strikes me first is how he adopts this classical landscape style, all rolling hills and puffy clouds, but uses it to depict something deeply unsettling. The canvas is covered with a smooth, almost polished surface, and the paint is layered thinly, creating a sense of depth that draws you in, even as the scene repels you. Look closely at the figures in the foreground. They are rendered with a kind of brutal simplicity; their actions are frozen in this awful, eternal moment. The colors are vibrant, almost garish, which only adds to the sense of unease. There’s a tension between the beauty of the landscape and the horror unfolding within it. Monkman’s work often plays with these kinds of juxtapositions, using historical styles to address contemporary issues. It reminds me a bit of Yinka Shonibare, who also uses historical references to comment on colonialism and cultural identity. Art is such a great way to keep a conversation going, isn't it?