The artwork titled “Pity,” created by Kent Monkman in 2013, falls within the Postcolonial art and Classical Realism movements. The artwork is categorized under the figurative genre.
The artwork presents a breathtaking mountain landscape dominated by a towering, snow-capped peak rising majestically against a dramatic sky filled with swirling clouds tinged with pink and blue hues. Foregrounded against this grandiose natural setting is a vividly rendered scene portraying a group of figures surrounding a semi-nude individual draped in white, evoking a classical tableau. The figures, nestled among grand trees and rocky outcrops, display expressions and postures reflecting anguish and compassion, sharply contrasting with the serene majesty of the mountain backdrop. The left side of the artwork also features a damaged, red vehicle, introducing a contemporary element to the otherwise timeless, idyllic tableau. This juxtaposition of vivid emotional human interactions and an expansive natural landscape invites contemplation and speaks to the complex narrative Kent Monkman aims to convey through the artwork.
