General Johnson 1768

Benjamin West, a Pennsylvania-born artist who found success painting historical scenes in London, created this oil on canvas titled *General Johnson*. Painted in the late 18th century, the scene depicts a moment during the French and Indian War. We see General Johnson preventing a Native American warrior from scalping a wounded French officer. The painting presents a narrative of British intervention, framing Johnson as a civilizing force. Yet, the image is fraught with the complex power dynamics of colonialism, in which the narratives of Indigenous peoples are often silenced or appropriated. The emotional tension of the scene is palpable, as the Native American warrior is shown in a moment of thwarted action, his agency checked by the imposing figure of General Johnson. West invites us to reflect on the moral ambiguities inherent in the era's conflicts, and the subjective nature of heroism and villainy.