The American 2016

Bo Bartlett painted "The American," presenting a man in a suit, gun raised, against a suburban backdrop. This image immediately conjures up questions of American identity, particularly its fraught relationship with violence. The figure's formal attire clashes starkly with the firearm, creating a tension that unsettles familiar narratives. The artist places the figure in the middle of the street, taking aim into the distance. Is he defending his territory or threatening it? The ambiguity forces us to confront uncomfortable truths about American culture. The houses stand as silent witnesses. Are they symbols of the American dream or targets in a perverse game? Bartlett’s hyperrealist style amplifies the emotional impact, leaving us to consider the complex, and often contradictory, values embedded in the concept of "The American." This painting isn't just a portrait; it's a mirror reflecting our collective anxieties and assumptions.