"The Dream of Reason Brings Forth Monsters"
Francisco de Goya y Lucientes
This is a piece with a person asleep. Surrounding him are everyday animals such as owls and types of cats. Owls are a symbol for wisdom and cats very sneaky creatures. Dreams can be beautiful things but if not controlled with reason as Goya depicts here, it can bring darkness and "monsters."
Goya explained for the description of his piece that, "Imagination, if not restrained by reason, brings forth monsters, but combined with reason is the mother of the arts and the source of wonders." This quote when I read it really jumped out at me. I feel imagination is one of the greatest powers a human being can have but if you don't give yourself boundaries it can quickly get out of hand and bring you trouble. As you look deeper into the picture you will notice the animals get darker and the owls standing for wisdom and knowledge are now changing into dark figures and eventually into bats. Bats, for me, are a symbol of evil, or demon-like creatures.
Goya is obviously very talented. He constructed this piece of art with freehand lines and etching. He focused most detail on just a few of the creatures giving them a dramatic feel, while the others were not as time consuming. The burst of light and dark effects with this piece are very influential representing good and evil. As imagination starting out pure and harmless (good) but without boundaries or reason to go with it you see the dark figures (evil).
This is a beautiful work of art. I think this picture is a perfect depiction of how we let our 'imagination run wild'. As human beings, we have tendencies to turn something positive into something negative. In this picture, there is the owl that eventually turns into a figure that resembles an evil bat. Sometimes we take words of wisdom from the wise and easily interpret it as negative criticism instead of a lesson that needs to be learned.
ReplyDeleteI really like the picture that you chose to write about. When I first look at this, I see a person who fell asleep from writing something. Maybe this person is dealing with a lot of pressure and it is coming out in their dreams of all the good and bad that is going on. I totally agree with the quote used to describe this picture. I also feel that the owl that is over their back is shielding them from the evil that is trying to consume them, letting them know that whatever is going on it will be ok.
ReplyDeletevery interesting picture and interpretation. i agree with what you and Goya say. Very good analysis and exposure of the techniques utilized. :)
ReplyDeleteWhen I first look at this picture I see someone who is very tired and fell alsleep writing. I do wonder why the owl is in the backround.
ReplyDeleteI seriously LOVE this! Very deep picture with lots of meaning.
ReplyDeleteGreat interpretation! At first glance I saw something totally different but after reading your description I can see the meaning.
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