In a previous blog post on Influence and Originality, I mentioned that “To be influenced is to engage so deeply with a piece, with a work of art, that it becomes part of you, infecting your point of view, challenging values or just becoming a catalyst for opening yourself to greater experiences.” This idea has always been fascinating to me, and something I revisit often – [see Edvard Munch & Me, Francis Bacon & Me, etc…]. I love these remarkable connections, unintentional resemblances, and striking references.
Woman With Dead Child
by Käthe Kollwitz
The Three Shades
by Rodin
The Expulsion Of Adam And Eve From Eden
by Masaccio
The Kiss
by Gustav Klimt
The Scream
by Munch
Old Guitarist
by Picasso
Standing Male Nude
by Egon Schiele
Henry Moore Sculpture
Untitled #08-13-21-567
When I recently photographed the image shown above, Untitled #08-13-21-567, I immediately responded to it with the same excitement and enthusiasm that I do when one of these connections emerges in my work. This time, however, I couldn’t quite place my finger on what the figure, or the form, or the gesture resembled. I racked my brain, and finally decided to put the question out on social media to see if I could get some insight as to where I had seen this before…
The responses were wonderful! I was thrilled with so many of the immediate suggestions people were sharing, and had to compile only a few of my favorites here. From Käthe Kollwitz and Edvard Munch, to Francis Bacon and Pablo Picasso, and even Rodin sculpture. I found them all to be relevant and incredibly exciting! Click on the buttons above to see the images of other artwork next to this latest image 🙂
As I have discussed before, these marvelous associations illustrate not only connections to other works of art, but to what Jung referred to as archetypes – the themes, forms, or expressions that are universal to mankind and resonate in various cultures throughout time. They emerge as the result of a long, intuitive process, where experiencing the work of other artists gives form to previously undefined feelings and thoughts.
Every generation reinterprets and redefines these archetypes in the language of their time to keep them relevant and true to their world. Our continued understanding of them is vital to our understanding of ourselves and one another, as they bear truths that lie at the heart of our humanity. They are the myths that enable us to contemplate our complicated existence, the challenges and consequences of consciousness.
It’s been a while since the last blog post, but interacting with the community over social media and sharing here is incredibly exciting. I’d love to keep this momentum going and continue to hear your thoughts and feedback!
——