The image discussed in class that I would like to blog about is “The Descent from the Cross,” painted by Roger Van Der Weden. This painting has Jesus set up as the center image and the Virgin’s body mimics His to emulate an emotional connection. The symbolism is that His pain is her pain as a mother.
There is a book that was made into a movie, called, What Dreams May Come, by Richard Matheson. This movie centers around a main character who dies; at first he has a difficult time acknowledging his death and then an even more difficult time leaving his wife and moving on into the afterworld. His wife kills herself and he has to go to Hell to save her.
This film has a connection to this painting in that it is very visually compelling and engaging. Both hold an intimacy and emotional resonance with the audience. The painting shows the figures in life size so the viewer cannot escape the scene. The film not only has a husband and wife’s bond that is severed by death but a child of the family dies as well. The movie and book reach out to love bonds between spouses but also a child and parental bond. The painting’s other figures not yet mentioned all have different reactions to the anguish and grief as does the characters in the film, from the wife, not being able to move on to the son guiding the main character to the afterlife.
For both the film and painting the colors and color patterns enhance the composition; there is a lot of color in the image and yet Jesus, the most important part of the image, wears white, the brightest color. In the film, the main character, Chris, where’s neutral colors, to connect him to his earthly bond but also to have him stand out in the very colorful film, as the most important character.
This painting moved me very much and inspired me to share the idea that, regardless of the aesthetic used, emotional connections can be a very strong muse.
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