The artwork titled “Death of the Female” was created by Kent Monkman in 2014. It belongs to the art movements of Postcolonial art and Queer art and is classified under the figurative genre.
The artwork depicts a chaotic and poignant street scene set against the backdrop of a church and a rundown house. In the foreground, several figures, ranging in diversity of representation, are gathered around a central figure who seems to illustrate a dramatic, possibly violent interaction. The central female figure appears to be in distress on the ground, attended to by others. To the left, there is a classic car creating tire smoke, while various individuals in traditional Indigenous attire observe the scene, juxtaposing modern elements with cultural references. Above the commotion, a figure reminiscent of an angel or Cupid hovers in the sky with a bow, further adding to the complexity and layering of symbolism within the composition. The contrast between the serene setting of the church and the turbulence occurring in the street underscores the tension explored within the themes of colonization, identity, and societal violence.
