THE WALL

The Story Behind the Painting The Setup: The painting depicts a young man playing chess against Satan, with the young man's soul hanging in the balance. The Allegory: The Devil (on the left, dressed in red) looks gloating and smug, convinced he has trapped his opponent. The young man (on the right) looks despondent, staring down downcast at what appears to be an inevitable defeat. An angel stands between them, looking on with deep sorrow. The "Checkmate" Title: For decades, viewers and art critics assumed the title "Checkmate" meant the game was over and the Devil had won. The Moral: Free will is a powerful force. No matter how many bad choices have led to a crisis, a person always retains the agency to make one correct, redemptive choice to turn things around.