Monday, November 16, 2020

An Evening With Skulls

 

What can one learn from an evening spent with a candle lit skull? With both being a symbol of how quickly life can pass us by, one can begin to wonder how morbid each artist could be. Perhaps we as the viewer could use an evening, filled with nothing but silence and bathed in the warm flicking light of a candle to ponder life’s big questions. Why are we doing what we do every day? Are we satisfied with what we have done? If we died tomorrow who would care? How do we treat the dying? As we take a trip past the faces of those contemplating this perhaps we can also realize much about what is left in Death’s wake. 

Saint Jerome in his Study by Candlelight

 

This painting is surprisingly gentle given the subject matter, as we have a room filled with soft reds, warm candlelight. As St. Jerome grasps the skull, he holds it softly with a cloth, his fingers lax on the surface. We wonder how long he has been thinking about what he is holding, and are struck by the sweet smile upon his face. We do not know how long it will be before he meets Death, but him and the skull seem to be like old friends. 

Skull, urchins and lamp on a table

Pablo Picasso

  • Location: Musée Picasso, Paris, France

  • Genre : vanitas

  • Style: Cubism

  • Date : 1943

  • Media: oil, wood


If there is such a thing as Opposite day then Picasso most certainly went for it. With only a hint of orange for warmth, we have here greys and blues as a call back in contrast to the usual reds and browns of most painted skulls and candles. Everything here is pointy or sharp, and the light is the darkest thing depicted. The urchins are unappetizing and the usual grin of the skull has been turned into an odd and greedy look. Perhaps here Death is more eager for us than we are for it.  




Young Man and Skull

Paul Cezanne

  • Date c. 1898

  • Style : Post Impressionism

  • Media: oil, canvas

  • Location: Barnes Foundation, Philadelphia, PA, US

Unlike St. Jerome above us, here we have a young man who is disturbed by the sight before him. We are still met with warm hues but this time there is a sharp contrast of blue with the yellow. The Young man's eyes are wide and a little wild, staring into the empty eye sockets of his former fellow man. It is quite interesting to see the skull sitting upon a stack of books, for what is written can often seem to live forever, but book pages can easily be burned to ash in but a few minutes. 


                                   

           

                           

           

                           

With a beautiful and tender set up contrasted by the hard and dangerous objects next to her, Mary Magdalene here is striking yet soft in a lovely paradox. She seems to have all the riches life could offer. Rich clothes to wear, time to spend leisurely, and beauty in abundance. But she is looking past all of those things, thoughtful in the night, directing us to look for more.           

The Penitent Magdalene 

  • Artist: Georges de La Tour Date: ca. 1640               

  • Held by: The Metropolitan Museum of Art   

  • Medium: Oil on canvas

  • Dimensions: 52 1/2 x 40 1/4 in. (133.4 x 102.2 cm)



The New-born


In the spotlight where the skull would usually rest, de La Tour has painted a closed eyed Christ. Living breathing flesh takes the place of a hollow piece of bone, and as the mothers here tenderly hold the child, we must also become silent as we realize how one day the child's head shall be crowned. We can also smile again realizing Death has been replaced. 



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