Skip to main content

Abstract

How far can you pare something down and still be able to tell what it is? If I were to say - draw me a diamond... Would you try to draw something that was sparkling and shiny? Would your sketch attempt to capture the star fire that scintillates within the depths of the stone? Would you draw each facet, showing the complex workings of the master crafters? Or would you draw a parallelogram? Would you draw a baseball diamond, simple and rectilinear?

I wondered this as we drove around this past Christmas. The deer shaped objects that populate people's yards at that time of year interest me. When deer see those wire-framed objects, do they see other deer? Are their minds able to fill in the gaps in the object, making connections between their own bodies and what is being depicted? Do they even care?

Artists and engineers have often sought for a simplicity and elegance in stripping away the extraneous to find the essence. The core.

Is there a point where it is too abstract? Where you've boiled away too much and you've lost what it is, whatever it is? And how would you do that with a work of art?

One of my favorite works of art is Liberty Leading the People. In it, a bare-breasted woman leads the people in revolt against the armies of the establishment and King Charles X. They were victorious, at least in that Charles X was the last Bourbon king of France.

But as interesting as the history is, there is deep symbolism here. Why is Liberty a woman? Is there something about women that leads people to think of Liberty? Something feminine rather than masculine? Why is she bare-breasted? Does she have to be bare-breasted? This is no Renaissance depiction of a beautiful human form (although she is beautiful, that was not the point). It is not an erotic depiction either - the dead upon which she treads ensures that. And speaking of, why is she barefoot? The others have shoes, even the double pistol wielding Gavroche... Well, one man has been stripped of his shoes, pants, and one of his socks... But that's a fairly clear symbol.

She also holds the flag in her right hand, high, aloft - a signal and a beacon. Her left holds a bayonet/musket, but it's almost forgotten, in the darkness, suggesting perhaps that Liberty must occasionally use force, but generally serves as a goal, an ideal, and a guide.

What really interests me is why the artist chose her to personify Liberty. Liberty itself is a fairly difficult thing to quantify. How would you represent Liberty? What colors would you use? What about a sculpture? A flag? A song? Could you pare it down to its essence? What would there be?

I don't know. And certainly any one's answer would be as good as any other's. But there are some depictions of things that just grab the actual essence of the thing and last.

Would a stick figure holding the French flag convey the same idea?

I wonder...

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Ephesus

Paul got around. Ephesus is right on the Aegean Sea, on the coast of present-day Turkey. Yesterday he was in Galatia, which was much more towards the middle of Turkey. And when he actually wrote these letters, he was in Rome... So the man could travel. He probably walked. Today's item of interest comes from chapter one in Ephesians. Verses 18 and 19 are particularly interesting: 18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power This is not the first time Paul talks about an inheritance. In Galatians he talks about the inheritance that comes of being part of the Abrahamic Covenant. He notes that we are joint-heirs through and with Christ. In Ephesians, he uses the word "adoption" - that we are adopted as the Children of Jesus Chris...

Engaged

Three Dog Night got it wrong.  One is not the loneliest number. They were more accurate when they said Two can be as bad as one.  I really wonder how people can survive Without being fully engaged. How they live through each day Without the intimacy I so very much crave... Maybe I am unusual in my desire  To have this intimacy, To want to feel that soul So close to my own Sharing light and warmth, Sharing love and passion, Sharing life. Alas! Alas! Alas! For when I do seek to share It is often only to be rebuffed Denied Or used up, Sucked dry, And left an empty husk.  I want SO MUCH to share And all I have is the cold, digital world Of typing out a blog.

Excommunication

My heart is heavy this morning. I read that Kate Kelly and others are being brought up on Church disciplinary action. For those who are unfamiliar with the process/proceedings of LDS Church discipline, it can be a bit mystifying. There are several levels of censure that the Church may impose. These range from a simple removal of some privileges for a short period of time to the most severe action - excommunication. When one is excommunicated, the person's membership in the Church is terminated. It is a very extreme measure, and for the faithful it can be a very difficult thing to consider. What people don't understand - what is nearly impossible for someone outside the proceedings to understand - is the amount of love felt. It's discipline. It's intended to be harsh (at times). And it's intended to be unpleasant. But it is done with love and care for the person. Since excommunication is such an extreme measure, it is really only very rarely applied. There are ...