The Great Escape 

Sarah Joncas created this intriguing painting, titled ‘The Great Escape,’ in the 21st century. It speaks to contemporary anxieties felt by many young people who are trying to come to terms with an uncertain future. Joncas’ painting depicts a young girl sitting under a tree accompanied by her cats and a blue balloon, while a city rises out of the ground behind them. It is easy to see this painting as a reaction to the pressures of modern life, pressures that are felt especially keenly in urban environments. This painting offers an interesting commentary on the institutions that produce such pressures, such as capitalist markets and government policy. Are the girl and her cats making a ‘great escape’ from the city to nature? As a social historian of art, I would be interested in conducting further research into the artist’s influences. What are the relevant political and social issues for Joncas’ generation and how might these be informing her artistic production? This would help us to understand how art reflects social issues.