Mist Fantasy, Sand River, Algoma – 1920

by JEH MacDonald


MAIN PAGESECTION PAGESITE MAPGLOSSARY

ART OF THE LOBBY BACK HALL
BEAVER SWAMPBOG OAKMAKAH RETURNING IN THEIR WAR CANOESMALIGNE LAKE, JASPER PARKMIST FANTASY, SAND RIVER, ALGOMAMYSTERIES (CARMICHAEL) ⎔ OXBOROUGHPLOVERSRED MAPLE


APPEARANCE

First appears as Ullman and Watson approach Jack for the tour, way behind them (see below). Again when Jack throws the tennis ball during the mazewalk. The first good look at it is behind to Jack’s left when he’s seeing the ghostball, and then we see it there a few times as different characters go through this passage (Hallorann, Wendy). It finally appears in the bloodfall hallway, in the same order as in the ghostball hall.

In its first appearance Watson is perfectly equidistant from each, and as Jack stands up, he and Ullman eclipse the two. Unless the two Tunnicliffes are Tunnicliffes, this would be the first instance of an artist having two works visible at the same time. And The Solemn Land was the first visible piece in the film.

IDENTITY

We’ve discussed MacDonald before.

Based on a 1920 sketch by the same name, this piece was described by a “later critic as the height of MacDonald’s way of stylizing form.”

SYMBOLIC SIGNIFICANCE

One of my pet theories about this piece’s inclusion is that it works with a network of clues to reference the Sand Creek massacre of 1864, one of the worst acts of American genocide.

Since it first appears during the first sequence of Ullman and Watson being outside Ullman’s office (crossing the spot where Dick gets axed), it’s interesting that the piece depicts two empty canoes floating eerily in a misty lake. Could this suggest the otherworldliness of these men? Also, Ullman says goodbye to two women who proceed to walk into the building, toward this painting, and thus away from the parking lot. This could have something to do with a much grander theory of mine I call the Tower of Fable, the origins of which are connected to these women, and the other set of two who bid Ullman farewell.

I’ve also discovered that Dick’s office in the kitchen features a photo of the Maid of the Mist floating beneath the Horseshoe Falls part of Niagara Falls. So I’m thinking now that these are connected.


Next art reference: The Ahwahnee Hotel


MAIN PAGESECTION PAGESITE MAPGLOSSARY


OTHER MAIN PAGES FOR SHINING ANALYSIS

THE MIRRORFORMTHE BEATLESTHE RUM AND THE RED
BACKGROUND ARTOVERLOOK PHOTOGRAPHSGOLDEN SPIRALS
PHI GRIDSPATTERNSVIOLENCE AND INDIGENAABSURDITIES
THE STORY ROOMANIMAL SYMBOLSTHE ANNOTATED SHINING

ABOUT EYE SCREAM