The artwork, titled “A Subtlety,” was created by the artist Kara Walker in 2014. Belonging to the Feminist Art movement, this sculpture exemplifies a powerful commentary on social and historical themes.
The artwork is an immense, visually striking sculpture made out of refined white sugar, depicting a sphinx-like figure with distinctly African feminine features. The figure commands attention with its sheer size and the intricate detailing, standing proudly in a crouched position within an industrial setting of an old sugar factory. The monumental piece evokes a dialogue about issues of race, labor, and historical exploitation, as well as the intersection of the production of sugar and the transatlantic slave trade. Its form and composition invite viewers to reflect on the haunting legacies of colonialism and the sugar industry within a broader socio-historical context.
