No Smoking Painting

This artwork features a rudimentary depiction of a train outlined in rough black strokes, contrasted against a dark brown and white background. The train emits large clouds of smoke, suggesting industrial activity. Above the train, the phrase “NO SMOKING” is inscribed in bright yellow letters, ironically juxtaposing the image of a train billowing smoke. Surrounding the words and the train, green leaves and foliage intertwine, hinting at the natural world being encroached upon by industrial forces. In the upper-right corner, a golden wireframe globe floats, symbolizing global commerce or globalization, a hallmark of capitalism. The small, silhouetted figure standing atop the train suggests human labor or the individuals lost in the machinery of industry. The interaction of industrial symbols (the train, the globe) with the natural elements (leaves) and the cautionary language ("NO SMOKING") evokes tension between economic expansion, environmental degradation, and social impacts—critical themes often associated with critiques of capitalism.