What did the butterflies mean in the paintings of world famous artists

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

The butterfly and moth are one of the main symbols in art and a significant number of major artists include this image in their canvases. It is noteworthy that the butterfly in most allegorical phenomena is considered a symbol of the soul, immortality, rebirth and resurrection. Traditionally, people saw in this insect the ability to transform, transform as it is born and transform from mundane caterpillars into a winged celestial creature. In addition, the butterfly is the prototype of the Mother of God.

Winslow Homer

When an illustration or painting is intended to convey a dreamlike or heavenly quality, artists usually include several butterflies in their work. So did the American artist and graphic artist Winslow Homer, who actively uses butterflies in his paintings, for example, on the canvas "Girl with Butterflies", "Fish and Butterflies", etc.

Osias Bert

More subtle images of butterflies can be found in such paintings as Osias Bert's still life with cherries and strawberries in Still Life with Bread, and Still Life with Strawberries, Pears, Peaches, Shot Glasses and Butterflies. The butterfly was a symbol of salvation, while evil took the form of a dragonfly. Cherries and strawberries were considered paradise fruits and thus represented the souls of people.

Frida Kahlo

The most significant self-portrait by Mexican artist Frida Kahlo was Self-portrait with a necklace of thorns and a hummingbird. According to some art historians, Kahlo wanted to portray that she was resurrected and started a new life with this painting. The hummingbird symbolizes hope and good fortune in Mexican culture. However, viewers may notice that the black cat, known as a symbol of bad luck, is taking its place behind Kahlo's right shoulder. Various interpretations suggest that the hummingbird pendant refers to Huitzilopochtli, the Aztec god of war who hurts Kahlo internally. Other important symbols of the painting were butterflies and a prickly necklace. Butterflies symbolize resurrection, and this may refer to her rebirth in life after an accident. And a thorny necklace can be a symbol of the crown of thorns of Jesus.

Vincent van gogh

Butterflies were also featured in a series of paintings by the Dutch post-impressionist artist Vincent Van Gogh in 1889 and 1890. Van Gogh created at least four paintings of butterflies and one with a moth. The metamorphosis of a caterpillar into a butterfly was symbolic for Van Gogh as the ability of women to transform. In a letter to his friend Emile Bernard (June 1888), Van Gogh wrote: "… the possibility of painting in better conditions of a different existence is a phenomenon, perhaps no more complex and no more striking than the transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly. This is the existence of an artist. butterflies, perhaps, will flow on some of the innumerable luminaries. " Garden paintings with butterflies were painted at the Saint-Remy orphanage in 1888 after a mental breakdown. Butterflies are perhaps a fitting metaphor for the fragility of his tragic life.

Dosso Dossi

Returning to the Renaissance, let us recall the painting by the Italian artist Dosso Dossi called

"Jupiter, Mercury and Valor" (1522-1524). Dossi was court painter for the dukes of Este of Ferrara and often painted with his brother Battista, who worked under Raphael. In this painting, the god Jupiter is painting butterflies on canvas, but since he is a god, the simple act of drawing brings them to life.

Salvador Dali

Butterflies have been Dali's favorite symbol since the 1950s. In 1956 - this is a painting with a painting by Salvador Dali "Landscape with butterflies", which depicts two butterflies soaring in the desert. They look somewhat static, as if they don't even flutter their wings. A strong light is emanating from the upper right corner, casting the shadows of the butterflies, as well as casting a long shadow from the rock-like wall behind them.

James Whistler

The famous butterfly by American artist James Whistler first appeared in the 1860s due to his interest in Asian art. He studied pottery signatures on porcelain, which he began collecting and decided to depict a monogram from his initials. The JW monogram, which has evolved into a butterfly over the years, has become Whistler's trademark and signature.

Antonio Pisanello

Another image of the butterfly found a vivid expression in the portrait of Ginevra d'Este by the outstanding artist one of the Italian quattrocento Antonio Pisanello, who entered the Louvre collection in 1893. The picture is typical for portraits of the early Renaissance. The fashionable dress and headpiece are carefully crafted to form a light, feminine silhouette. The background, depicting a blooming garden with fluttering butterflies, plays a decorative role rather than celebrates the beauty of nature.

William-Adolphe Bouguereau

The largest representative of the academic salon painting, William-Adolphe Bouguereau, completed the painting entitled "Cupid and the Butterfly" in 1888. The plot refers to the beautiful ancient myth of the god of love, in this case depicted as a small plump Cupid and a light butterfly. Bouguereau portrayed the young Cupid - a character famous in Greek mythology - carefully picking up a butterfly that landed on his hand. The hands of little Cupid are depicted especially delicately and beautifully: he puts one hand on his thigh, palm up, and the other - carefully holds the butterfly, straightening his little finger and ring finger up.

Corcos Vittorio

Another work - already an Italian painter of the 19th century - Corcos Vittorio is called "Beauty and the Butterfly". The portrait painter depicts a young girl looking at a butterfly. And here there is an absolute artistic symmetry - beauty versus beauty.

Author: Djamilya Art