You are so right in saying that Caravaggio's painting is not very moving. It's a riddle... and just looking at the black and white contrasts, it reminds me almost of a Rorschach test picture. Very odd. I think it's a reflection on reflection. Caravaggio's Narcissus does not appear as an individual to me, but as the personification of the human need to recognise oneself by looking into a mirror (self-knowledge); it's more of an archetypical nature in my view. With Frodo as protagonist, the beholder is suddenly concerned on a personal level and feels involved, and it's almost too painful to witness his agony. Such intensity!
I have to come back and read Jan's poem later... but my, you, Jan and Caravaggio are a helluva team!! It's incredibly moving!
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Date: 2008-04-14 06:19 pm (UTC)What a post - I'm blown away.
You are so right in saying that Caravaggio's painting is not very moving. It's a riddle... and just looking at the black and white contrasts, it reminds me almost of a Rorschach test picture. Very odd. I think it's a reflection on reflection. Caravaggio's Narcissus does not appear as an individual to me, but as the personification of the human need to recognise oneself by looking into a mirror (self-knowledge); it's more of an archetypical nature in my view.
With Frodo as protagonist, the beholder is suddenly concerned on a personal level and feels involved, and it's almost too painful to witness his agony. Such intensity!
I have to come back and read Jan's poem later... but my, you, Jan and Caravaggio are a helluva team!! It's incredibly moving!