Regard the Class Struggle as a Main Link in the Chain by Kehinde Wiley is an oil and enamel painting on canvas made in 2007.  It measures eight feet tall by six feet wide and is hung in a portrait orientation meaning its shortest side runs parallel to the floor. The painting depicts a black man in everyday clothing in a traditional pose associated with historical European paintings. The background is comprised of a filigreed pattern of vines, leaves, flowers, and butterflies or moths. This intricate tangle of plant life and insects repeats in an organized and repeating visual pattern, like a fractal. The vines and leaves are bright green and blue, the flowers are white, pink, orange, and red. The butterflies are orange, blue, red, yellow, purple, and pink. This fractal pattern, as well as the entire painting, rests on a background of deep, royal blue. Toward the bottom middle of the composition, the ornate vine pattern extends from the background onto and above the central figure. It reaches across his waist and extends towards his outreached arm. The posed black man has closely cropped hair, a small mustache and beard, and is looking directly at the viewer. His skin shines and reflects an unseen light source. He is wearing a purple t shirt and blue jeans. His right arm, the one on the viewer’s left, is bent and angled towards his face. His hand closed in a loose fist. His left arm, on the viewer’s right, is lifted above his head. His hand is open and hovers over his left shoulder, above the crown of his head. His pose has a regal and heroic posture, like that of a monarch or mythic figure.