A Lesson in Discretion 1887

Cassius Marcellus Coolidge created "A Lesson in Discretion," as a visual narrative unfolding in four panels that speaks volumes about power dynamics. Coolidge was born into a time of significant racial tension in the United States, just before the Civil War. The artwork uses stark contrasts in size and action to highlight the performance of masculinity and authority. The larger man initially threatens violence, but quickly finds himself on the receiving end, emphasizing the often-precarious nature of dominance. The phrase, "A Lesson in Discretion," suggests a commentary on who has the privilege to speak, and when silence becomes a tool of survival or resistance. It’s about the emotional landscape of confrontation, the moments of bravado, fear, and submission that shape our interactions. The racial dynamics further complicate the scene, hinting at the historical context of racial hierarchies and the ways in which they could be subverted, or challenged.