The artwork titled “Maps of Palestine” was created by Richard Hamilton, an artist associated with the Pop Art movement, and it exemplifies the figurative genre. The piece is a visual representation that compares two time periods, labeled 1947 UN Partition and 2010 Occupation, depicting the changes in territorial division and control within the region of Palestine.
The artwork is composed of two vertically oriented maps side by side, with the left map representing the 1947 United Nations partition plan, and the right map displaying the situation as labeled ‘2010 Occupation’. In the left map, we can see a clear delineation with distinct color-coding, designating separate areas for Israeli and Palestinian states proposed by the United Nations partition plan. The representation on the right, however, portrays a fragmented landscape with numerous enclaves, shaded differently, evidencing the complex geopolitical realities of occupation as determined in 2010. Red areas on the left map contrast sharply with the fragmented and extensive spread of red pockets in the right map, while blue areas communicate a state of transition and contestation. The use of contrasting colors conveys a narrative of change and perhaps loss, indicating a potent political commentary embedded within the geographic depictions. The simplicity and direct approach of the artwork reflect the Pop Art movement’s tendency to address contemporary issues and mass culture – in this case, through the lens of geographic cartography.