There Will Never Be Another War Barbara Norfleet

The composition presents a tableau populated by insect figures arranged within a miniature landscape. The foreground is dominated by large rocks, their surfaces exhibiting varied textures and coloration – ranging from grey with veining to a reddish-brown hue. These geological forms serve as the stage for the central drama unfolding amongst the insects.
Two prominent insect figures are engaged in what appears to be a violent interaction. One, rendered in muted browns and tans, seems to be attacking another, which is colored in shades of green and yellow. The posture of the attacker suggests aggression; its forelegs are raised as if striking, while the other figure attempts to defend itself with its own appendages. A smaller insect, dark in color, appears to observe the conflict from a nearby rock.
The background establishes an atmosphere of impending doom or aftermath. A dramatic sky, transitioning from deep purple to orange and yellow, suggests either a storm or perhaps the glow of fire. The overall lighting is theatrical, highlighting the figures and emphasizing their forms against the darker backdrop.
Beyond the immediate depiction of conflict, the work seems to carry subtexts concerning power dynamics and observation. The scale difference between the insects and the rocks implies vulnerability within a larger, indifferent world. The presence of the observing insect introduces an element of voyeurism or perhaps commentary on the cyclical nature of aggression. The deliberate artificiality of the scene – the clearly constructed landscape and the staged positioning of the figures – distances the viewer from any sense of naturalistic representation, prompting reflection on the constructed nature of conflict itself. The work’s aesthetic suggests a critique of violence, not through direct depiction of human suffering, but by abstracting it into an allegorical encounter between creatures within a fabricated environment.