In the panel below, you see individual elements of my painting Surrounded.

The central idea of the painting is based on a dream I had.

The painting is a psychological allegory.

The battle is the metaphor.

Visually, you’ll notice the figures create a V-shape to direct the viewers’ attention from left to right toward the two horsemen firing pistols. All the figures are firing at an unseen enemy while the real enemy comes from behind.

I chose the period of the civil war and the obvious similarity to General Custard’s last stand at the Battle of Little Bighorn. But that is where the similarity ends. The painting is not an attempt to recreate that battle.

The Sargent seen above is mortally wounded (the wound is not visible due to image quality.) The Sargent’s impending death, his consternation, his slow realization, and the horses hysteria all add to the chaos of battle and the themes of ambiguity, danger, mortality and loss.

The central drama is shooting, firing, battling against that which is unseen and, therefore, a mystery. That is how I interpreted the dream. I was in crisis. I was in danger. Yet, my best efforts were totally ineffectual.

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