The artwork titled “Meeting at the Pentagon,” created by the renowned artist Oswaldo Guayasamin in 1970, stands as a quintessential example of the Expressionism movement. This particular piece falls under the genre painting category, where everyday scenes are depicted in a manner that conveys the artist’s emotional perception rather than merely replicating reality.
The artwork is composed as a series of interconnected panels, creating a narrative sequence or a multifaceted singular scene. Each panel features a figure, or figures, who appear to be engaged in a somber, deliberative state, captured in stark, angular poses that suggest intensity and unease. Guayasamin’s color palette is largely monochromatic with shades of black, white, and grays, punctuated by sepia tones that give weight to the figures and the solemn atmosphere they inhabit.
Guayasamin’s exaggerated forms, with their sharp edges and contorted shapes, are expressive of internal emotion and psychological states. The figures seem to be burdened, perhaps by the gravity of decisions made within the confines of a bureaucratic or military context, as suggested by the title. The postures and facial expressions of the figures reflect a deep sense of concern and gravity, conveying the overarching theme of the human condition in the face of authoritative settings.
The Expressionist qualities of the artwork are seen in the way emotional experience supersedes physical reality, and the viewer is drawn into a world where subjective emotions are visually externalized. In this way, “Meeting at the Pentagon” by Oswaldo Guayasamin serves as not only a representation of a genre scene but also a powerful commentary on the human psyche within powerful institutional frameworks.
