Untitled (Floral Still Life) c. 1940s

George Nelson created this untitled still life, sometime between 1900 and 1978, using graphite on paper. This drawing offers more than just a study of domestic tranquility. Nelson, born in Kingston, Jamaica, presents a composition that subtly layers colonial and racial themes. The floral arrangement itself, while traditionally a symbol of beauty and serenity, is set within a scene that evokes the history of colonial exploitation. Note the backdrop, and the vessels containing the flowers, each adorned with pastoral scenes featuring white figures in what appears to be a tropical landscape. By juxtaposing the conventional beauty of floral still life with imagery suggestive of colonial power dynamics, Nelson invites us to consider the complex interplay of beauty, history, and identity. It challenges us to reflect on whose stories are told and how they are told and represented.