Miss Chief's Wet Dream 2018

Kent Monkman made this painting, "Miss Chief's Wet Dream," and what a title! It’s a scene packed with figures from different times and places, all caught in this wild, wet moment. Looking at it, I can imagine Monkman really going for it, layering the figures, pushing and pulling the space with paint. The waves look pretty intense and agitated, don’t they? I’m thinking about the process of making this artwork: Monkman would have used brushes to build up the forms, maybe even using rags or palette knives to create the textures of water and skin. The way all these bodies are interacting really makes you think. Like, what’s the story here? Who are these people, and why are they all together in this chaotic scene? It makes me think about other painters who mix history and myth, like Delacroix or Gericault. Artists are always riffing off each other, creating this big, ongoing conversation through time. And in the end, it’s not about pinning down one “right” answer, but about opening up a space for questions and connections.