Leon Golub created some very thought provoking paintings, showing the horrors of prejudice and oppression.
His paintings are easy for me to understand and interpret. His use of bright colors and large figures helps in this. I think Golub does a really good job of creating lifelike people. For example, the men’s stances and expressions show hatred and contempt for their prisoner. Also, they seem very calloused, like they are used to doing these kind of things. They have no shame as they mercilessly torture and abuse their victims. The prisoner displays helplessness and despair as he sits in the chair masked and tied up.
Another thing I really like about Golub’s paintings is the reality that they show. There really are situations happening in the world that are like the ones he paints. Sometimes it is easy to think only about how nice we have it in America but I think we should realize how bad people in other countries have it. Golub clearly shows the cruelty that can happen and does happen in an oppressive regime.
Most of his works seem to be political, although they do not portray a specific country. The book says that Golub was a major critic of war, especially the Americans in Vietnam. It is easy for me to picture the men in blue as U.S. soldiers who are trying to get information from their Vietnamese prisoner. Overall I think Golub was a good painter who did a great job of showing the public the reality of political oppression.
Interrogation II, 1981
White Squad V,1984
It's shocking to imagine that people can be so cruel and heartless to other human beings. Golub does a great job portraying this ugliness. I personally feel a bit uncomfortable when I look at this painting because I really struggle trying to comprehend actually being in that position, whether it be guard or prisoner.
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