A Painting Illustrating Devotion

Devotion
Christopher Walker

Analysis of the Painting: Devotion
Molly Ackerman

This painting, Devotion by Christopher Walker, portrays a man who is dedicated to his job or leisure, whichever he is rowing his canoe for. The waves that rise higher than his canoe illustrate an element of devotion that is commonly found in literary exemplifications of just that: persistence. The subject of the painting is clearly illustrated as a man that will be stopped by nothing, as if nothing will prevent him from reaching his destination, which is perhaps the lighthouse illustrated in the background. However, this painting differs from literary works in the fact that the audience cannot tell what he is thinking. Looking at this photo, I asked, does he want to quit? Does he regret paddling out there to accomplish whatever his original goal may have been? Often in literature a character is superficially unaffected by the journey that their devotion sends them on. Yet, deep down they are struggling immensely. In Jane Eyre, Jane seems to find total and complete satisfaction and pleasure in compromising her morals with selfish indulgence, by being with Rochester. However, the way Charlotte Bronte ends the novel, with the idea of St. John, who kept her from her devotion, as the main subject of Jane’s thought. This implies that she feels some regret. Though nothing stood in the way of her being with him, the last of her time with Rochester is possibly accompanied by thought of “is this the right decision?” It is hard to tell if the man in this painting carries that regretful and remorseful emotion along his journey.

The use of devotion in this painting, although somewhat unlike the uses in literature, is efficient in communicating the message. Despite the thoughts of the subject, he is there in his canoe, battling one of the most natural, powerful forces of the world. If he was not devoted, he simply would not be there. The audience’s inability to read his mind does not in any way lessen the effect of devotion, but rather makes it uneasy to further categorize the type of devotion that is being portrayed.