A picture can mean a thousand words. Artists create art to create interpretation and discussion among individuals. People can see a painting one way but another person can see it another way. With art there’s many dimensions and elements incorporated into the piece to allow for a variety of interpretation and discussions to happen. The artwork “Betrayal” by Mario Sanchez Nevado touches on many issues regarding society. At first glance the image created by Nevado shows a gun being aimed at tearful women. By looking at the little details of the gun and the women, viewer will notice that the painting has a totally different meaning to it. Thus by looking at Nevado’s usage of iconic symbols, contrast between colors, and details within the image interpreters can see and understand the connection Nevado’s trying to make to make to society. This is important, because with the use of multiple elements Nevado is trying to stress the importance of global warming and the destruction that has caused it.

Iconic symbols are heavily used in Nevado’s artwork to make a connection to the meaning of the images. Symbols can have many meanings to it and it depends on the individuals to interpret what the symbol means. When you think of mother nature what image pops up in your mind? Is it a nurturing women who cares for all life on earth? Chances are, you were. The artwork heavily uses iconic symbols, such as a women and gun to make meaning. In the artwork a woman is designed to literally look like nature. By looking at the woman we can see that the lady herself is nature. Women and children are often regarded as the ones needing protection. When a woman or child is placed in a threatening position the empathy and emotional appeal is concocted in the interpreters’ interpretations. By depicting a woman as nature this causes for the interpreter, who are humans, to have a stronger connection and stance on the meaning of the artwork. Another iconic symbol used in the artwork is a gun. A gun can mean two things. Life or Death. In the picture the gun is cocked to be fired. When this happens, 90% of the time the gun will have the meaning of death. Another thing that viewers will notice is the gun is being held by a human’s hand. With the gun pointing at the woman who is nature itself we can put the two icons together to get an idea that nature’s life is in the hands of humans.

The use of contrasting colors also gives the artwork meaning. By using contrasting colors the artists is trying to make an emphasis on key areas. The first instance of contrasting colors appears within the background of the image. In the background of the image viewers can see a contrast in the shading. The heavily shaded area is focused on the hand holding the gun. The dark shading adds emphasis to the idea that death, darkness, depression, and corruption is associated with the gun and hand.  While the dark shading is mainly focused in areas around the hand the lighter shading is focused around the women whose depicted as mother nature. Lighter shades typically have the meaning of purity and cleanliness and by having the lighter shades surround the women this effect can create an emphasis on the idea that the hands of humans are slowly destroying the clean environment. Another use of contrasting colors is the use of red against the black colored gun barrel. The red shade is not only located on the tip of the barrel, but also on the woman’s lips. The striking color of red against contrasting colors draws attention to the bigger idea of the image. Red is usually associated with the meaning of love and by using that certain shade it ties the title of the artwork, “Betrayal” to the meaning of the image. If a different shade was chosen the message would’ve translated differently.

The details of the artwork are probably the most important factor in figuring out the message the image is trying to portray. Without the details viewers would’ve only saw a gun pointed at a woman which would’ve caused the viewers to interpret the artwork differently. The gun isn’t only a gun. On the barrel of the gun there’s designs of skyscrapers and ships. Emitting off from the skyscrapers and ships is smoke. Smoke is a one of the factors of pollution. Another detail that’s important is the women. The woman is heavily designed to look like nature. Within the design of the woman we can see deers, birds, streams, branches, flowers, and green plants. By adding the little but important details to the women we can interpret the woman as mother nature. The details of the stream are very important, because it adds an emotional effect to the painting. The stream is used to act as tears of mother nature. Another detail that adds to the meaning of the artwork is the red lips on the woman and at the tip of the gun. This was obviously added intentionally to the gun to draw an emphasis to the meaning of the image. The details of the artwork play an important factor in deciding the meaning of the image. 

Art is a unique element in literature. It allows for unlimited interpretations to form from the unique perspective of individuals. By taking a close reading of a visual texts interpreters can form their own ideas and conclusion about the visual text. Creators use multiple elements of design and formatting to create meaning through artwork. By taking a close reading of the visual texts individuals can decipher the multiple elements used in the artworks. The artwork designed by Mario Sanchez Nevado uses iconic symbols, contrasting colors, and details within his work to portray the message that natures fate is the hands of humans who are the main cause of the destruction of it. 