Friends, while visiting Running Cause I Can’t Fly (see Special Links), I came across this painting by Hieronymus Bosch, a Dutch painter (1450-1516).
It jumped out at me immediately because, in it, I saw myself perfectly captured on canvas. In case you’re wondering, I’m the one in the bottom right-hand corner, the pugnacious one who is trying to convince the others that they are on the wrong track or on no track at all.
Now the truth is that the angry visage is not mine at all. People tell me I have a kind face but little do they know that inside I am filled with rage, filled with emotions that boil and bubble. Call the angry man my alter ego if you will. He is the one who, like me, will fight to the death for what is right.
But Bosch has captured the sheeple perfectly as well. They’re the three who closely surround me, stare defiantly into my face, the ones who are jeering. Attractive, aren’t they? Their faces mirror exactly what they are: dull, vacant, clueless and, without doubt, brave when they’re in a large group. The dunce’s cap is a nice touch!
Please take note of the one with the military helmet on. He is a perfect representation of a General and his eyes are fixed on a distant battlefield where lots of people are dying and raping and pillaging are occurring. Clearly, he smells blood, senses victory!
The top-left one with his mouth wide open could be either a President or a Prime Minister telling a spray of lies or a wealthy capitalist demonstrating his infinite greed. There is little to choose between them. They both rip off people with gay abandon and put themselves first!
And the one with the closed eyes surely represents religion, the eyes veiled to hide its deception. Of course it could also symbolize the law as well, its blindfold.
Well, friends, there you have it. Artists see things that most don’t. I wonder what Bosch would’ve done if he’d had to paint our world of 2009?
Perhaps he’d say that nothing has changed at all!
it’s a bit like your ‘goya’ painting david…………weird. but weird in the nicest possible way.
could we have a ‘gainsborough’ or something similar next time. you know, to lull us into a false sense of security………..
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There is too much ‘lulling’ going on in the world already, Coco. I’m against lulling, more into pushing and shoving!
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coco Reply:
January 30th, 2009 at 12:32 pm
well, when push comes to shove……….
i know what you mean. i was joking. but the majority of ‘sheeple’ won’t face facts and that’s what we’re up against. at least when the shit hits the fan we won’t be surprised……………
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David G Reply:
January 30th, 2009 at 12:36 pm
I’m not sure whether that’s a plus or a minus, Coco. We’ve had to worry about it all this time while the ‘sheeple’ have been blissfully making hay…
Perhaps, at times, ignorance IS bliss!
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coco Reply:
January 30th, 2009 at 9:21 pm
here’s something to make you laugh:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/ml_iraq_shoe_sculpture
mmmm!
projection???
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Hmmmmmm!
Rationalization???
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Hello David… those of us not inclined to follow in lockstep such as the sheeple crowd (i prefer calling them lemmings) surely understand and identify with the Bosch painting. It is comforting to know that there are others out there who are not blinded by the glaring light of state deception.
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I realise that this item is entitled The World and Me, but accompanying artistry portrays a world in which the angry man, although clearly outnumbered by his opponents, is at least represented on the same scale. Sadly, that is not the case.
To be an acccurate depiction of current realities it would have to show the angry man as a miniscule annoyance barely perceptible above the shrill and incessant propaganda machine and the answering bleets of the sheeple — or the squeeks of the lemmings as the case may be.
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The state of Maryland is enacting laws to limit its police,that is in an attempt to decelerate the police state. Since obama has clearly thrown in with the warmongers, maybe there is hope in the states exercising their autonomy.
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Therese Reply:
February 1st, 2009 at 11:36 am
Police brutality in Maryland has received a lot of publicity. Great news, Ken.
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This painting says to me:
That is surely Christ with his crown of thorns, carrying his cross through an uncaring crowd.
The soldier is looking ahead to make sure there is no opposition, the three in front are arguing about some inanity, oblivious to the suffering going on and most interesting of all is the wizard,
with his beautiful dunce cap, decorated with a universe of stars and a rainbow of nature.
The wizard looks pleased, like all is as it should be.
I don’t know what the loud mouth is saying or who he’s talking to.
Or the three men in front: the two are telling the angry man that he has to help Christ carry that cross, angry is not having that.
That’s my impression David, but I bet this is just a part of a much larger painting?
It is intriguing.
There is a movie called “Goya’s Ghosts”, I enjoyed very much. A morality tale that was
anti-war, anti catholic church (during inquisition). Bosch was mentioned in passing.
I am a huge fan of Goya’s etchings & paintings.
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Thank you for introducing me to Hieronymous Bosch, who it appears left few writings about himself. What a painting, and I wonder what personal vision of himself he had.
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