The artwork, titled “Prisoner,” was created by artist Tetsuya Ishida in 1999. This painting, which falls under the art movement of Surrealism, is a symbolic painting that conveys deeper meanings through its imagery.
The artwork features a large, institutional building that resembles a school or factory, painted with a surreal touch. Emerging from the building is a colossal, melancholic human face, with other parts of the body, particularly hands, shown grasping onto the structure’s façade and roof. These human elements are curiously integrated into the building, adding to the surrealistic nature of the piece. Scattered around the exterior of the building are uniformly dressed figures, spaced evenly apart, contributing to a sense of isolation and detachment. The sky above is depicted with dynamic clouds, adding a foreboding and somewhat oppressive atmosphere. The symbolic message of the painting can be interpreted as a critique of institutional confinement and loss of individuality.
