The Death of Jane McCrea Analysis

A detailed Summary of The Death of Jane McCrea Analysis

So many words come to mind when I look at the horrific picture painted by John Vanderlyn in 1804. "The Death of Jane McCrea" depicts two Native-Americans holding a tomahawk above an innocent white woman. Between the period of when the first settlers arrived in Jamestown (1607), and when this painting was completed, relations with between the white settlers and the Native Americans tended to oscillate between friendship and hostility. This painting was an illustration for an epic poem glorifying a white settlement. It was designed as propaganda, in order to justify the settlers' hate towards the Indians. Vanderlyn used to many different painting techniques in order to prove to the world that the Indians were savage and barbaric people.

The setting alone creates a gloomy impression from the very beginning. This atrocity takes place deep into dimly lit woods. Large trees and the lack of other human life suggest a dark seclusion. This dark seclusion is an indication of t

Vanderlyn also incorporates a spiritual aspect in the painting. It is clear, for example, that there is a strong white light shining from above. This light represents God and the heavens, shedding its light onto the poor woman who is being savagely murdered. She now realizes that there is nothing that she can do, and her fate is in the hands of God. Conversely, Vanderlyn depicts the savages in the opposite light; this time it has a satanic nature rather than a heavenly aspect. He shows this clearly when he paints the Indians in a much darker color, which makes them seem just as scary as the mysterious and dark setting behind them. The Indians are both wearing red headdresses, which are the same shape and color as Satan's devil horns. Also, their skirts are red- the color of the devil. Their faces can also be related to the face of Satan, containing the same cold and harsh qualities. In making this spiritual comparison, the painter is able to point out the "good guy" and the "bad guy". He has created this pic

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Approximate Word count = 683
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Arts

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