The current cartoon by Mr. Fish on SOTT

[ElizabethDempsey]

There's a lot going on in the cartoon by Mr. Fish currently being featured on SOTT (February 2nd). I would appreciate others' input so I can get the full impact of this cartoon.

So far, I notice that it's based on a familiar painting by Norman Rockwell who usually presents a pretty, rosy-eyed view of American life. By contrast, in the cartoon version, the "painter" is a member of the Ku Klux Klan (having what looks like a bony hand reflected in the mirror). And he has a wrong-side version of the Confederate Flag, making it look like an X.

It's a self-portrait (probably a self-portrait of America), alongside other portraits, including Hitler. (I wonder why Van Gogh is there?) And who/what are the other characters?

The figure that appears on the canvas is probably someone from popular culture, but I'm not sure who and what he symbolizes.

Other details include what looks like a "turkey drumstick" on the floor as well as some bloody morsels in the wastebasket.

And what's that hanging out of the painter's pocket? Is it a dead dove?

And what are the wooden blocks on top of the canvas? (Maybe a miniature of something from a torture chamber.)

And why the stick moving diagonally from the top right of the canvas? Maybe it's related to the flag, but has become disconnected.

The glass of liquid perched precariously on the stool adds to the feeling of tension, suggesting that at any minute things could get very messy.

 

[ElizabethDempsey]

Maybe the blocks on the top of the canvas are gravestones.

 

[Palinurus]

Hi Elisabeth,

I was wondering myself what it all might mean, so I'm glad you started this discussion about it. :)

And what's that hanging out of the painter's pocket? Is it a dead dove?

What I see there is some sort of holster (as for pistols) with some sort of tool in it, although I'm at a loss which one. But it also could be just some sort of cloth to wipe his hands clean with, I presume.

And what are the wooden blocks on top of the canvas? (Maybe a miniature of something from a torture chamber.)

Those are parts of the easel. Take a look at one without a canvas on it:

And why the stick moving diagonally from the top right of the canvas? Maybe it's related to the flag, but has become disconnected

No, these type of sticks are used to support the right hand for detailed painting on small surfaces without the risk of touching the canvas directly and smearing the paint all over. The painter probably holds the other end in his left hand or it may rest on his left upper leg or something. They are called guiding sticks if I'm not mistaken.

My father was an amateur painter and he had all those implements and tools (and much more). That's how I know about these.

 

[anart]

There's a lot going on in the cartoon by Mr. Fish currently being featured on SOTT (February 2nd). I would appreciate others' input so I can get the full impact of this cartoon.

So far, I notice that it's based on a familiar painting by Norman Rockwell who usually presents a pretty, rosy-eyed view of American life. By contrast, in the cartoon version, the "painter" is a member of the Ku Klux Klan (having what looks like a bony hand reflected in the mirror). And he has a wrong-side version of the Confederate Flag, making it look like an X.

Yep, it's a reality, as opposed to Rockwell's dewy-eyed optimism.

It's a self-portrait (probably a self-portrait of America), alongside other portraits, including Hitler. (I wonder why Van Gogh is there?) And who/what are the other characters?

Well, I can't speak for the artist, but that self-portrait of Van Gogh is arguably one of the most famous self-portraits in existence, so it might be just to push the self-portrait theme.

The figure that appears on the canvas is probably someone from popular culture, but I'm not sure who and what he symbolizes.

That would be the superhero Captain America - defender of all that is good and right and the american way.

Other details include what looks like a "turkey drumstick" on the floor as well as some bloody morsels in the wastebasket.

Actually, that appears to be an empty tube of paint.

And what's that hanging out of the painter's pocket? Is it a dead dove?

Just a handkerchief.

And what are the wooden blocks on top of the canvas? (Maybe a miniature of something from a torture chamber.)

That's just the frame of the easel.

And why the stick moving diagonally from the top right of the canvas? Maybe it's related to the flag, but has become disconnected.

I think that is an old guide stick used on some easels to keep the canvas in place.

The glass of liquid perched precariously on the stool adds to the feeling of tension, suggesting that at any minute things could get very messy.

This piece by Mr Fish may well be one of my favorites because it captures so perfectly how right wing ignorant American bigots see themselves, as all that is good and right and true about America and as the only ones who are defending what is true and right. It's just perfect.

 

[Nook]

As a point of reference, here's a link to the original.

By contrast, in the cartoon version, the "painter" is a member of the Ku Klux Klan (having what looks like a bony hand reflected in the mirror)

I don't think that's his hand. I think it's just the paint brushes in the reflection, just like in the original painting.

This kind of reminds me of 'Look for the differences in the two pictures' games.
These are the things that are different in Mr. Fish's version:
- The painter and in turn his reflection
- The helmet is gone from the top of the easel
- Instead of the 'trial (or test) drawings', it's Hitler
- It's a rotated version of the confederate flag instead of Rembrandt's self-portrait
- Colors are more faded
- And his actual drawing

Everything else imo is just a reference to the original. If it were not for these references, it could be considered plagiarism in some circles.

This piece by Mr Fish may well be one of my favorites because it captures so perfectly how right wing ignorant American bigots see themselves, as all that is good and right and true about America and as the only ones who are defending what is true and right. It's just perfect.

Agreed, it is just perfect.

 

[ElizabethDempsey]

Thanks, everyone for your input. And thanks, Nuke, for putting up a link to the original. That helps to clarify a lot.

Even though, some of the objects in the cartoon (cloth in back pocket, paintbrushes reflected in mirror, empty paint tube on floor), have a literal explanation (reflecting back to the original painting), in the context of the cartoon version, they tend to take on a more sinister appearance. Things are no longer simply what they appear to be. Or that's how it seemed to me.

I think your comment, Anart, really captures the essence of what is depicted in the cartoon:

This piece by Mr Fish may well be one of my favorites because it captures so perfectly how right wing ignorant American bigots see themselves, as all that is good and right and true about America and as the only ones who are defending what is true and right. It's just perfect.

 

[shellycheval]

Quote from: e
The figure that appears on the canvas is probably someone from popular culture, but I'm not sure who and what he symbolizes.

Anart
That would be the superhero Captain America - defender of all that is good and right and the american way.

This is a favorite of mine also and I immediately copied to my “Favorites of Mr. Fish” collection. Since this brilliant satire is a pastiche of Norman Rockwell’s famous portrait of himself painting his own self-portrait, I am guessing that Mr. Fish is saying that Rockwell saw himself as a defender of, as well as a portrayer of, the “American Dream,” and the ideal way of American life. When in reality, his paintings (and Mr. Fish) suggest he was a racist, sexist, and classist bigot. He saw himself as a “Captain America,” defending something that does not exist in reality, but lives in the minds of narrow minded racist, sexist, and classist Americans.
shellycheval

 

[Buddy]

I would appreciate others' input so I can get the full impact of this cartoon.

Abstractly: America's self-image is of a two-dimensional superhero who doesn't know he's just a cartoon because none of his reference points represent a distinction between actual reality and internal pictures.

Emotionally: Those responsible for how America is represented to the world use an idealization of "the stars and stripes" to mask racism and hatred.

 

[Tigersoap]

FWIW I think it's how America would portray itself if it wasn't so blind and hypocrite about it's own roots in racism and bigotry.
A brilliant twist on a famous painting.