Commander of Frailties
Artist
Shawn Spencer (American, b. 1961)
Date
1998Medium
Oil on boardDimensions
Panel : 28 x 25 in. (71.12 x 63.5 cm)
Frame : 29 1/2 x 26 1/2 in. (74.93 x 67.31 cm)Credit Line
Gift of Richard '52 and Margaret '52 KruizengaObject Number
2012.5.6
Label
Recent research has shown that the planet’s current mass extinction event is affecting not only mammals, birds, fish, and reptiles but also insects. This is crucially important because insects occupy an important place at the bottom of the food chain and are also vital for plant pollination. This painting by Boston-based artist Shawn Spencer portrays a Commander butterfly lying back on its wings as if dead or wounded. The poignant combination of beauty and sadness supports a metaphorical reading of the image as a commentary on the fragility of natural ecosystems and the potentially tragic consequences of damaging them.
