Was absolutely awestruck by this painting when I saw it on the lovely Imp’s blog.
The contrast of the orange blanket and the black of the angel of death was the first thing to strike me. There is a sadness that I can’t quite explain. I find it a bit disturbing although it’s not meant to be, as the angel holds a guiding light and she holds the young girl with her wing. It’s a comforting gesture. But I guess it just reveals my own fears of death and mostly loss. I am not afraid of dying myself, but I am petrified of loss.
Sorry for the many obsessive shots. I feel I could sit and gaze at this over and over again and never tire of it. Ironically, it feels so alive.
The petals fall on the floor. Every little detail seems significant.
The young girl and death.
Yes, I felt stunned in the presence of this painting. Some of the paintings were disturbing to me on some level like this one.
A beautifully stunning painting.
I was also drawn in by this picture too…primarily because of how the bright red blanket signifies blood (essence of life) that the girl was trying to grab hold of desperately. But on closer look, the death angel was sitting on the bigger portion of the blanket and gesturing ‘no’ to the girl, which i interpret as death is already close to claiming the whole of her life, and there’s nothing she can do.
I also saw the bright vermillion of the blanket as the girl clinging to life.
yup, overall every big and small element of this picture just makes the painting complete…everything fits nicely together
Hey.
I was enamoured by this painting and bumped into your blog while trying to write a short piece of my own. Thanks so much!
I am very glad you posted this, I went to the d’Orsay recently and say this painting wrote down the artist and name of the painting then promptly lost it and well as I am now back home in Australia I couldn’t exactly go back for it. Thanks to your blog I have found it once again and now I am very happy for this painting is a main part in some research I am in the middle of.
Merci
I’m really happy that the blog could help in a small way. Thanks for commenting Emily 🙂 Made my day