"A woman, draped and blindfolded, carrying a lighted torch"

Marlow's description of Kurtz's painting reveals its somewhat odd character. The woman in the painting is holding a torch-light as a sign of hope and a promising future, yet she is blindfolded and completely unaware of her surroundings. This is obviously ironic and shows the repetitive injustice that is present in Africa at that time. Her blindness as well as the somber and black background of the painting create an ominous feel about the meaning of the illustration. Lastly, the painting is a bit discouraging because it portrays the land as unchartered and unfamiliar; nobody has ever seen or been through this land, and that is why it is such an ominous-looking painting. I think that Marlow would agree with the painting's meaning because he is well aware of the fact that many have not made it this far and that what lies ahead truly is, indeed, darkness.