Lucifer by Franz von Stuck (Interpretation and Analysis)

-
Lucifer
Source: Wikimedia Commons
There are few things more spooky than Satan, am I right? So, as October continues, I want to share one of the creepiest paintings of the devil out there: Lucifer by German artist Franz von Stuck.

In a word, von Stuck’s work can be described as dark. Some of his most famous paintings include subjects like Dante’s Inferno, the Roman god of the Underworld, Pluto, original sin, seduction, and, of course, Lucifer himself.

von Stuck was a member of the Symbolist movement, an artistic style that sought to convey meaning through the artist’s own particular language of symbolism. While their styles vary greatly Symbolist painters tend to lean on mythology, mysticism, and dream-like imagery.

According to my research, von Stuck approached Symbolism through focus on the idea of duality and the nature of humanity. His art explores the contradictory nature of the human condition, such as life and death or pain and pleasure. His work was well-respected by other artists, and over the years von Stuck taught and advised luminaries such as Wassily Kandinsky and Paul Klee.

As you can probably imagine, von Stuck’s Lucifer depicts Lucifer, the fallen angel of light whom God cast out of Heaven. The piece dates from von Stuck’s “dark monumental” period and was described by contemporary critics as a “man-demon.” Indeed, this characterization seems correct. Instead of depicting Satan as a monstrous creature, von Stuck paints him as a grim- faced man with black wings and luminous yellow eyes. The most frightening thing about the piece is that the subject looks—on the surface—so ordinary. Aside from his wings and eyes, the “man-demon” appears entirely human. The piece seems to imply humans need no external, supernatural source of evil; they carry it in themselves, along with the luminosity that made Lucifer beautiful in Heaven.

According to my research, von Stuck’s Lucifer terrified government ministers while it was in the possession of Prince Ferdinand of Bulgaria; some of these men even felt compelled to make the sign of the cross whenever they saw von Stuck’s black and brooding masterpiece. I can understand the feeling.

Disclaimer: I’m not an art historian or an expert on this topic. The above is my opinion, based on my interpretation of my foreknowledge of art and history. If I’ve done any additional research, I’ll note it above.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Le Chat Aux Poissons Rouges by Henri Matisse (Interpretation and Analysis)

-
Image
Le Chat Aux Poissons Rouges Source: Pinterest French artist Henri Matisse is rather famous for his paintings of goldfish. In fact, one of his most famous paintings, entitled Goldfish , depicts several of the aforementioned fish swimming in a bowl. Matisse is one of the most famous artists of the twentieth century. His work is closely associated with the Fauvist movement and is generally characterized by great energy and rich, intense colors. Based on my research , Matisse began painting goldfish after he traveled to North Africa. In Morocco, Matisse observed locals watching goldfish swim in their bowls as they sunk into a meditative state. The fish subsequently became a symbol for this sense of tranquility, coming to represent an idyllic version of the world only accessible through joyous day-dreams. These calming fish are prominent in this painting, which is entitled Le Chat Aux Poissons Rouges (which translates to The Cat With Red Fishes ). However, the serene energy of the fish
Read more

Five Puerto Rican Artists You Should Know

-
Image
The island of Puerto Rico has a long and vibrant artistic tradition. Western, Indigenous, and African cultures have all left their mark on Puerto Rican art, creating a colorful and unique visual legacy. While Puerto Rican artists have demonstrated their excellence throughout the years— from the creators of the captivating Taino petroglyphs to the sophisticated and subtle works of the Modernist painters—Puerto Rican art has received little attention from art historians and the wider art world. Here are five underappreciated Puerto Rican artists that you should know: 1. José Campeche José Campeche is often known as the first Puerto Rican painter in the Western history of fine arts. He was primarily known for his religious paintings and his portraits of elite Puerto Ricans, and today his work is recognized as some of the finest examples of Rococo art produced in the Americas. Campeche’s personal story is also inspiring. The son of a slave who had purchased his own freedom, Campech
Read more

Mural La Plena by Rafael Tufiño (Interpretation and Analysis)

-
Image
Mural la Plena Source: Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico Today I want to chat about a monumental piece of art that I recently had the pleasure of seeing at the Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico. As the name suggests, Mural La Plena is a massive mural, fifteen by thirty feet in size, that was created by Puerto Rican artist Rafael Tufiño to commemorate la plena, a wildly popular genre of music that was born in the city of Ponce around 1900. The mural, which might appear abstract or incomprehensible to a viewer unfamiliar with the subject matter, illustrates the lyrics of popular plena songs. For example, the blue-green figure that dominates the upper half of the mural represents the hurricane from the plena “Temporal,” which mourns the destruction caused by a storm. Plena, as a genre, tells stories. According to my research , the lyrics come from current events, re-telling the stories that affected the lives of the people of Ponce. It began as a way for people of low socio-economic sta
Read more