The Long Pause is a painting that illustrates the cost and benefit of understanding. The artist uses a palette of whites to create a sense of silence and emptiness. The white represents the pause, the moment of reflection and comprehension. The painting shows a horizontal line that cuts across the canvas, symbolizing the boundary between ignorance and knowledge. The painting also shows a small gap in the line, representing the opportunity and risk of crossing the boundary. The painting implies that the long pause is a time of decision and consequence, when one can choose to remain in the comfort of ignorance or to pursue the challenge of knowledge, but at a price.