Grassy Lakes

Jessica Brooks
Mrs. Etheridge
Honors English 12
20 August 2002
Grassy Lake
Most paintings today are very symbolic. Nothing is ever what it seems to be. This is true for the painting Grassy Lake by David Bates. This painting at first glance looks like two men in a canoe pushing through swampy waters, but the symbolism in the painting shows the relationships of the two men to each other and their surroundings. The symbolism is a significant factor in trying to understand the relationship of the people to each other and the people to their environment. The symbolism in this painting shows a mentor guiding a young man to success.
At first glance at the painting a person could think they were some kind of friends. This seems true because they are in a canoe with coolers. Coolers bring to mind picnics and f...