Liberty Call II 2021

Mary Jane Ansell painted "Liberty Call II," a work that immediately strikes you with its juxtaposition of soft, youthful features against a backdrop of historical conflict and martial symbols. The composition is strikingly circular, framing the subject within a battle scene. The young woman's braided hair contrasts with the cold, hard steel of the armor, creating a tension between vulnerability and strength. The artist employs a muted palette, lending the piece a dreamlike quality, which subtly undermines the glorification of war. Ansell seems to explore the semiotics of power and gender. The young woman is set against signs of national and religious zeal, challenging fixed notions about heroism and femininity. By placing these elements together, the artist challenges the viewer to question established categories and values. The unsettling contrast destabilizes easy interpretations, inviting us to consider the complex interplay between innocence and the theatre of war.