Pity 2013

Kent Monkman created "Pity," a painting that borrows its composition from historical depictions of tragic events in idyllic landscapes. Monkman, a Canadian artist of Cree ancestry, frequently uses his artwork to explore themes of colonialism, representation, and sexuality through a gender-fluid, shape-shifting persona named Miss Chief Eagle Testickle. In this piece, the foreground reveals a car crash with figures reminiscent of classical paintings tending to the injured, while a serene mountain looms in the background. This contrast creates a deliberate discord, challenging conventional romantic landscape paintings by introducing the harsh realities of contemporary life and the legacy of colonialism. The painting asks us to consider who is afforded pity and how historical narratives have often excluded or misrepresented Indigenous people. In this collision of worlds, Monkman urges us to confront uncomfortable truths and question the narratives we inherit.