Joseph M. W. Turner's The Slave Ship

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When first viewing Joseph M.W. Turner’s The Slave Ship it appeared to be a beautiful seascape painting at sunset, even though the title does not depict a beautiful scene. What was your first impression of this work? It was not until further research and zooming into the painting to then see the detail of the colors which displayed the slaves body parts. Your description of the slaves being terrorized captivated me and pulled me in as if viewing the work. Furthermore, your explanation as to what the slaves endured was powerful. After reading more about Turner’s painting, and considering the time of which it was painted, it is my belief that Turner was trying to send a subliminal message about the slave trade and how some captains of the ship

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