The chief on the left sees only the structure's red face because his position limits what he can perceive.
From where he stands, red appears to be the whole truth, not merely one visible side of a larger reality.
The chief on the right, however, has a broader, three-dimensional perspective.
He understands that the red surface is part of a cube and that other colors exist with equal legitimacy.
Because he can see more, he can imagine a blue flag as valid rather than threatening.
The tragedy of the painting lies in the first chief's blindness: he mistakes his limited viewpoint for absolute truth and becomes enraged when someone else sees differently.
In this way, the painting exposes the intolerance, arrogance, and destructive foolishness that can arise when human beings confuse perspective with certainty.
