Spiralling Into Control
It is so much fun for me when an expression we use almost daily confronts a completely different symbology in art.
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| Philosophe en meditation, Rembrandt |
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| Philosophe au livre ouvert, Koninck |
Both painters juxtaposed the spiral staircases with the philosophers "at work". Both philosophers are at the bottom of the upward spiral, suggesting thought at its inception; I like this. The idea that they'll eventually work their way to the top, that the philosophical inquiry will lead them to a higher plane or stage, is elegantly present. These men are on an upward spiral.
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| The Astronomer, Vermeer |
Curiously, then, Vermeer's astronomer is not looking up, but at his "celestial globe". I can't find a good reason why this should be, even if the theme is scientific focus, couldn't he have been looking up, at least?
2 comments:
Is it possible to entertain the inverse of that proposition? That the two philosophers have come to the end of life’s winding twisting journey? The small closed door behind the gentleman in the Rembrandt limits his options, while the small man stoking the fire on the other side, coupled with the light buffered through the window offers warmth in the waning light. In the Koninck, the long hall behind the wall where the gentleman sits, signifies the path not taken perhaps or in combination with the staircase, a crossroads between the vertical and horizontal planes of his movement through life. Contemplation of their respective journeys through life and they find themselves thus, with their writings and papers, charts and observations, perhaps wondering if they have used their gifts well or if what they have done with gift was good, or would be judged so.
In the Vermeer, he is able to grasp the entirety of his world, rather than just the shroud hanging above his head through which light bends and illuminates and alternately darkens his world. He can behold its wonders in all their awe and splendor at once, not in fragments or bits as the world orbits on its journey. Perhaps even, he feels like God for a brief moment, looking upon his creation with the same feelings.
Thoughts from the Far Side.
The best thing about art is that many views can quite comfortably apply to any one work; it can even change over time, the same painting can appear one way today and in a different light in 5 yrs' time to the same person.
yes, it's possible theyre at the end of their lives--my tendency is to think philosophers seldom find themselves at the end of their inquiry tho. to me, the perspective you present would apply better if they were at the top of the stairs, and with either far more light present in scene or far less (depending on how happy with his achievements the philosopher is...)
There are established symbols in the arts, whether in painting, literature, or film; theyre all super codified, so act as a more or less flexible frame for a narrative.
And yes, in the Vermeer he does present the scientific stance, one which is often of curiosity as well as a bit of a divinity complex as you pointed out; maybe youre onto something. I wanted him to be looking up at the sky (or at least up) because, well, astronomers tend to, or at least tended to, and it is an artistic portrait; i want more symbology to apply haha
thanks for comments
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