Beauty and Meaning

Adrian van de Velde: Fishing for souls

This painting has a strong meaning, overshadowing the beauty. It is fascinating to see people dressed in black rescuing naked people from the water on boats. People are symbols, the texture of the picture, the sky, the water and the metallic rainbow gather and frame the event. You don’t find a situation like this in the real world, yet the subject feels real. Do we accept this symbol? It creates associations and questions in me.

Peter Paul Rubens: Het Steen

A View of Het Steen in the Early Morning, in the National Gallery in London. Size 131.2 cm by 229.2 cm and made on twenty oak planks. It is one of the most beautiful landscape paintings I´ve seen. The meaning is beauty. I would like to wander into it and discover what more there is of wonders!

Carel Willink: The Zeppelin

Here, a feeling of comradeship, people waiving at the zeppelin, expressing cohesion, in the foreground.The zeppelin can symbolize an uplifted mood, an event that puts a new perspective on the world.

Remedios Varo: Bankers in action

This painting is like a story! A poor widow hides behind a wall from a flock of vampires in elegant clothes. Are they hunting for her livelihood?

Caravaggio: Flight into Egypt

A very beautiful image, made with love for every detail. The light, the colors. Caravaggio took on really difficult perspectives, and made it look easy. The mastery of the painting is superb.

When I look at this image, I always get a strong feeling of melancholy. I think the reason is Mary, holding the sleeping Christ child in a loving embrace. The music the angel is playing opens up recognition of her feelings of anxiety and sorrow for her baby´s future.

It is a painful feeling, as you cannot live the life for your child, you cannot shield it from harm forever. But at least there is also beauty to be found, both in stories and in music …