Chatter Post: Friday, January 2, 2009
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Isn't it horrid?
It's from the Greek myth, where Saturn (Cronus) devours his own children. He does so to protect his own power, as it was foretold that one of his children would succeed him.
One thing about me- I've always had this perverse attraction to the macabre. I'm a cynical, critical person, and perhaps I seek this out to see if I can find something that will shock or surprise me, as it can prove to be unusually difficult. I honestly don't know- I've wondered about this draw inside of me for a long time, with no reasonable conclusions.
The painting was by Goya, and it's absolutely striking to me. What I think I appreciate the most is the angle of it- instead of the mighty Gods, with their epic powers, making bold and mighty moves, what we have here is a terrified, wretched, naked old man, who is doing something cowardly and desperate to hold on to his own fate-doomed powers. The utter banality of the body, with its former health and strength, counterpoint his own tanned hide and OH, those eyes! It's gripping to me- I remember I almost jumped when I saw it. What a powerful interpretation of the myth!
Goya is not a perfect artist. His paintings are crudely drawn- a distinctive artist would tear apart his sense of proportion and dimension. But there's a grit there- an beautifully terrible element- that gives them power like I rarely see in anyone else's work. He embodies, through art, the horrors of war, misguided religion, and violence like no other artist I've ever seen. Look what he captures here:
Look at the abject surrender in his eyes! The white of his shirt, and the way he's on his knees as writing soldiers hold him. Check out the cruel lines of the guns, the irreverent way the bodies are piled on one side and the fearful executees stand in horror and anguish on the other side. This is crude, but it captures so much!
The Straw Mannequin. It looks too human for this to seem right. What was he symbolizing?
It's all about that banner. It feels so powerful that you almost feel like it's affecting the trees, which are almost haunting themselves.
For me, it's all about that prisoner, bound hands, feet, and neck, laying on his back. That scene communicates so much about how long they've been there and of the power of humans to adjust and adapt.
There are many beautiful pieces of artwork that have captured me too, but it's always been the odd and dark ones that had me hooked.
What are your favorite artists and pieces of artwork?
Images in comments are very welcome!