Döden [4]
Janis Rozentāls (1897)
Döden (a depiction of a liberating death, by artist Janis Rozentāls)
In a time when most of the people lived ordinary lives as peasants. Rozentāls was mostly painting people’s daily life but sometimes reflecting mythology and religion. This image is one of those paintings – something between daily life and mythology.[6]
Döden translates to ‘Death’.
Death is “an abstract referent, because it is something that is formed in the mind and is thus not demonstrable”
Death is one of the goddesses [7] in Latvian mythology and she is always wearing white. The dead child is also wearing white. In Latvian culture the white colour indicates death, rebirth, the world of the dead.
It’s a refreshing change to see Death depicted in white cloaking, in a liberating role rather than condemning. Death is represented here with light feminine features and a scythe held low and non-threatening yet still symbolically used to “cut life short”.
She is lent forwards and speaking as if to apologise for the sadness she will leave in her wake, about to is a soft kiss from death upon a young infant forehead. The image brings a tear to our eyes as we are saddened by the fact this mother could not have payed the infant’s soul reached maturity before it was reaped by death.
However, this painting also conveys the reverence and respect she has for her position and those souls she reaps, as the mother watches death peacefully coming to take the child away with a single gentle kiss upon the forehead. Around these characters of the painting we can see woods, a small path, and the beginning of a meadow...the journey to the afterlife that death must carry the infant through.
Death also has bare feet, because she is in very close relationship with nature…she comes from nature.
This portrays death as being a beautiful journey to go through and should not be feared, the woman in white will guide you to the afterlife on the beautiful path through the wooded meadow. And is the most beautiful part of life. The path death stands on belongs to her and she comes out of the woods to take the child. Thus, the mother of the child was waiting for the goddess.
Döden is a painting that indulges in some kind of danger, but at the same time, feel peace and harmony. By looking at this image it is significant to be familiar with the culture it comes from to understand the meaning and idea of it. As Sturken and Cartwright argue, “the capacity of images to affect us as viewers is dependent on the larger cultural meanings they invoke and the social, political, and cultural contexts in which they are viewed” [8].
“Death cloaked in white. Her feminine features glinting off her face, As she slowly approaches a sleeping me, And tucks the hair behind my ear, “Quite a life you’ve lived, huh?” she whispers, as I lull into my eternal sleep. She gently carries my soul, As she leaves behind a scent of roses, before the rot settles in.” [5]
Bibliography
[1] Danesi, M. (2002). Understanding Media Semiotics. London: Arnold, p.24.
[2] Latvian National Museum of Art. (2020). Janis Rozentāls (1866–1916). Art and Technique. Available: http://www.lnmm.lv/en/lnma/visit/exhibitions/1771-janis-rozentals-18661916-art-and-technique. Last accessed 17th June 2020.
[3] Lundberg, A. (2019). Color meanings and the art of using color symbolism. Available: https://99designs.co.uk/blog/tips/color-meanings/. Last accessed 17th June 2020.
[4] Rozentāls, J. (1897). Döden. (oil painting). Latvia.
[5] SHARIN' IS CARIN'. (2019). Döden (a depiction of a liberating death, by artist Janis Rozentāls). Available: https://crazylittlerowling.wordpress.com/2019/05/25/doden-a-depiction-of-a-liberating-death-by-artist-janis-rozentals/. Last accessed 17th June 2020.
[6] Spoge, D. (2018). Thinking Differently about Death through Art: Nāve (Death), 1897, by Janis Rozentāls. Available: https://cedareducation.org.uk/thinking-differently-about-death-through-art-nave-death-1897-by-janis-rozentals/. Last accessed 17th June 2020.
[7] Stonewylde. (2020). A-Z - Gods and Goddesses. Available: http://www.thewhitegoddess.co.uk/divinity_of_the_day/latvian_gods_and_goddesses.asp. Last accessed 17th June 2020.
[8] Sturken, M.; Cartwright, L. (2001). Practices of Looking: An Introduction to visual culture. Oxford: Oxford University Press, p.25.
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