Images of Power
One of my exercises for Evolutionary Witchcraft is to go to an art museum and find images that expemplify power.\
Watchdog -- Han Dynasty 206BC - 220CE
Amber glazed red eathenwear
I think that the dog I saw was a different one, more detailed.
This dog has a large open mouth with prominent fangs and cute cheebe ears.
I think this dog spoke to me because it was clearly meant to be a being of protection. The ability to protect is power. More so it is clearly both fearsome and adorable. There is also great power in cuteness. It's a more subtle sort of power, and that sometimes makes it more so. Cuteness will make people more willing to do what you want. Cuteness is also the ability to be underestimated and gain an edge. The combination of fearsomeness and cuteness is a force to be reconed with.
Reclining Deer -- State of Chu, 4th Century BC
Lacquered wood and atler
Again I don't think this is the same deer that I saw. If so the picture doesn't do it justice. The deer's head is held high and forward. It is clearly a creature secure in it's prowess. The antlers are massive and take up more space than the rest of it. They are a symbol of magical potency.
This is a symbol of power because of the confindence it exudes. The deer is the picture of security. The space taken up by the antlers give it a sense of having a massive aura. The deer says to me "I am here, in all my glory. I need not. I can just relax and be."
State Carriage of Landgraf Ludwig VIII of Hesse-Darmstadt , c. 1750.
Painted and gilded beech and ash, leather, glass
This coach is huge, as far off the ground as a large pickup truck. Every inch of it is guilded and decorated and opulant.
Looking at the coach you can't help but see the owners regalness. It has a level of lavishness that one does not come by easily. The size makes it awe inspiring. It is clear that this coach is a symbol of the power of the royalty. This is the power to live in luxury and the ability to use that opulance to your advantage.
Seascape -- William Trost Richards -- 1884
The painting I actually saw was Marine, but the same artist in 1884. It may have been more of a view from the ocean than the shore, but it was similar to this one.
It was a wide painting showing the vast sea and sky. In the distance a tiny boat floats inconsiquential to the sea's vastness.
The size and presence of the ocean is a perfect view of the power of nature. The ocean both dwarfs and connects us all. It is really a force that is difficult to fathom in it's emmenceness, save that it is powerful.
Gang Way Before To Day
Karl Wirsum -- 1985
Broad shouldered iconic man in blak and medium blue colors, with long hair, lips, skirt, and heels. This image combines both of the iconic concepts of masculane and femanine power and beauty into one. The superhero strength that is considered the archtypical of masculinity is combined with the lipstick and heels we assoiate with numerious movie charecters and the idea of feminine mystique. The power of this image is the ability to take hold of both with equil force, something few are brave enough, or perhaps even able to do.
Elliot Erwitt -- USA Wyoming 1954
A car drives down the highway along stide a train. A huge smoke plume draws the eye to the train, and you see the strength of the machine against the horizontal landscape.
This is the power of creation, the power of man to change the world to get what he wants. This is the power of transportation, the ability to move at high speed. This is the power of machines.
Kennith Noland -- Dark Sweet Cherry 1966
The one I actually saw was called Strand. It only had three stripes. They were black, magenta, and gold.
This reminds me of the power of symbolism. The painting was about 3-4 feet wide, and reminded me of a medal or a flag or a logo. It is the power of symbolism, the power of a simple bold pattern to make a much larger statement. It is the power of corperations and governments and other such large complex ideas that can be summed up in simple bold patterns.
Head of a Figure Called Eloquence
Emile Antoine Bourdelle -- 1917
(no image on the internet)
This is a three foot bronze sculpture of a head of a man with an open mouth speaking. His eyes are looking strait ahead in confindence and you know whatever it is he is saying is importaint. This is the power of speach and communication.l
Allegoric Figure of a Woman -- Franz Von Stuck 1917
I am so angry that I couldn't find this image online. I really think I liked it better than all of his other works I could find online. An interesting thing to note is that Von Stuck is part of the Symbolism movement, so the symbolisim in his work is definately purposeful. I really wish I could put it here.
A woman stands nude on a tile floor. She is wearing golden earrings and sandals and is holding a purple shawl behind her. Tue background frames her head whick is looking up in equality and adoration.
The woman seemed to me to be very comfortable with herself. She isn't particularly covering herself with the shawl, just letting it casually rest on her shoulders. She has nothing to hide. She is content in herself and that is powerful. She also has a look on her face that reminds me of ritual and communing with the divine. She knows that the world is full of wonder and that she is a part of that.
Tenshu Monogarari Story -- Kaoru Saito 1980
The woman's head and chest are flowers or drapery and her hair is leaves or drapery. She catches arrows in her mouth and with her sleeve.
The is the power of ability and accomplishment.The woman/spirit is serene and secure in her ability. She stops the arrows without panic, but with the simple knowing that she can. We aso see the protection element again here. Surely those arrows were designed for another destination and she was able to stop it. We also see her as being a part of nature and inharently magical, and that is power as well.
Watchdog -- Han Dynasty 206BC - 220CE
Amber glazed red eathenwear
I think that the dog I saw was a different one, more detailed.
This dog has a large open mouth with prominent fangs and cute cheebe ears.
I think this dog spoke to me because it was clearly meant to be a being of protection. The ability to protect is power. More so it is clearly both fearsome and adorable. There is also great power in cuteness. It's a more subtle sort of power, and that sometimes makes it more so. Cuteness will make people more willing to do what you want. Cuteness is also the ability to be underestimated and gain an edge. The combination of fearsomeness and cuteness is a force to be reconed with.
Reclining Deer -- State of Chu, 4th Century BC
Lacquered wood and atler
Again I don't think this is the same deer that I saw. If so the picture doesn't do it justice. The deer's head is held high and forward. It is clearly a creature secure in it's prowess. The antlers are massive and take up more space than the rest of it. They are a symbol of magical potency.
This is a symbol of power because of the confindence it exudes. The deer is the picture of security. The space taken up by the antlers give it a sense of having a massive aura. The deer says to me "I am here, in all my glory. I need not. I can just relax and be."
State Carriage of Landgraf Ludwig VIII of Hesse-Darmstadt , c. 1750.
Painted and gilded beech and ash, leather, glass
This coach is huge, as far off the ground as a large pickup truck. Every inch of it is guilded and decorated and opulant.
Looking at the coach you can't help but see the owners regalness. It has a level of lavishness that one does not come by easily. The size makes it awe inspiring. It is clear that this coach is a symbol of the power of the royalty. This is the power to live in luxury and the ability to use that opulance to your advantage.
Seascape -- William Trost Richards -- 1884
The painting I actually saw was Marine, but the same artist in 1884. It may have been more of a view from the ocean than the shore, but it was similar to this one.
It was a wide painting showing the vast sea and sky. In the distance a tiny boat floats inconsiquential to the sea's vastness.
The size and presence of the ocean is a perfect view of the power of nature. The ocean both dwarfs and connects us all. It is really a force that is difficult to fathom in it's emmenceness, save that it is powerful.
Gang Way Before To Day
Karl Wirsum -- 1985
Broad shouldered iconic man in blak and medium blue colors, with long hair, lips, skirt, and heels. This image combines both of the iconic concepts of masculane and femanine power and beauty into one. The superhero strength that is considered the archtypical of masculinity is combined with the lipstick and heels we assoiate with numerious movie charecters and the idea of feminine mystique. The power of this image is the ability to take hold of both with equil force, something few are brave enough, or perhaps even able to do.
Elliot Erwitt -- USA Wyoming 1954
A car drives down the highway along stide a train. A huge smoke plume draws the eye to the train, and you see the strength of the machine against the horizontal landscape.
This is the power of creation, the power of man to change the world to get what he wants. This is the power of transportation, the ability to move at high speed. This is the power of machines.
Kennith Noland -- Dark Sweet Cherry 1966
The one I actually saw was called Strand. It only had three stripes. They were black, magenta, and gold.
This reminds me of the power of symbolism. The painting was about 3-4 feet wide, and reminded me of a medal or a flag or a logo. It is the power of symbolism, the power of a simple bold pattern to make a much larger statement. It is the power of corperations and governments and other such large complex ideas that can be summed up in simple bold patterns.
Head of a Figure Called Eloquence
Emile Antoine Bourdelle -- 1917
(no image on the internet)
This is a three foot bronze sculpture of a head of a man with an open mouth speaking. His eyes are looking strait ahead in confindence and you know whatever it is he is saying is importaint. This is the power of speach and communication.l
Allegoric Figure of a Woman -- Franz Von Stuck 1917
I am so angry that I couldn't find this image online. I really think I liked it better than all of his other works I could find online. An interesting thing to note is that Von Stuck is part of the Symbolism movement, so the symbolisim in his work is definately purposeful. I really wish I could put it here.
A woman stands nude on a tile floor. She is wearing golden earrings and sandals and is holding a purple shawl behind her. Tue background frames her head whick is looking up in equality and adoration.
The woman seemed to me to be very comfortable with herself. She isn't particularly covering herself with the shawl, just letting it casually rest on her shoulders. She has nothing to hide. She is content in herself and that is powerful. She also has a look on her face that reminds me of ritual and communing with the divine. She knows that the world is full of wonder and that she is a part of that.
Tenshu Monogarari Story -- Kaoru Saito 1980
The woman's head and chest are flowers or drapery and her hair is leaves or drapery. She catches arrows in her mouth and with her sleeve.
The is the power of ability and accomplishment.The woman/spirit is serene and secure in her ability. She stops the arrows without panic, but with the simple knowing that she can. We aso see the protection element again here. Surely those arrows were designed for another destination and she was able to stop it. We also see her as being a part of nature and inharently magical, and that is power as well.