Using Art For A Psychology Study? Want To Interpret This Painting?

Question

Would any of you care to interpret this painting I finished two nights ago? I painted the damn thing and am still not sure what I was trying to say with this work. Perhaps your outside perspective will be more impartial?

Do you consider the overall message positive, hopeful or more negative. Do you see the noose, the lit candle and/or angel as being metaphorical images?

Here is the link:

http://pics.livejournal.com/unmired/pic/000783s6/g79

(As always, you can double click on the image to enlarge it to see more details.)

Thank you.

Well, I’m not now, nor have ever been, nor will likely ever be suicidal. So the noose has to be metaphorical. Perhaps it is organized religion that is suicidal?

Answer 1

The religious items in the window, this is the portal, organized Faith. The icon represents the teaching/programing of the church. The candle is the light which is within us all. Beyond the window is the courtyard, what we come to when when begin to move past "the teaching" of the church to question & seek for ourselves. The noose represents the death of all the old ideas, even the death of the old self. The gate at the end of the courtyard is closed, we can not see beyond the closed gate untill we pass thru. I could probably get a little more detailed if I studied it closer. I don't know if this is what you mean to convey, but this is what I see. It is quite beautiful.
Blessings

Answer 2

I see the angel and cross at the top of the window as religion inside the walls as a safe house from the misery outside. It seems that religion has turned its back on saving the world for the sake of the Lord in the image of the angel with its back turned from the world. The angel also smiles as if everything is fine and stands by the glimmer of flame from the candle as if that light is enough to protect it and give off hope. The closed gate reminds me of church gates closing the public away from its secret of deception as the empty noose is hung to remind anyone that lays eyes upon it that pain and judgement will always be here no matter what is done to stop it. The noose itself makes me think of witchcraft trials and the KKK, both organizations of judgement and singlemindedness. The full moon can also be a symbol of witchery.

Answer 3

the darkness represents the unknown great beyond. the walls, the separation of this world, and the next. The doorway, the veil we all must go thru. It opens(at times to let beings from both worlds into the other realm.
The noose is negative, but a viable necessity to go further down the path we take when we die. The candle is our weak life, slowly burning away- it could last long or be cut short, like the end of the noose will do to a life. The angel giving hope and reassurance. I am sure there is more, but that's all i see right now.

Answer 4

I love the painting!
Painting is always so subjective. It doesn't matter what the artist intended, art will always be interpreted through the eyes of the beholder.
To me, the feeling I get is hopeful. Even if I wanted to stay closed in safety, afraid to face the unknown, (the world beyond the gate) there is always a light (the candle, the moon) to guide me though the dangers and fears (the noose) that await me outside. Keep up the good work!

Answer 5

Interesting, I like it.

My first impression (the first time I clicked on the painting) was safety by being inside the window with the angel facing me and if I go out the window I have to face the unknown world thus the noose.

2nd time I clicked on painting I got a different perspective in that the outside world isn't that bad because now I have the candle and there is a gate at the end of the sidewalk so now I have choices.

Answer 6

Hello:

Well there is clearly a stone wall, but oddly not a gate...I would really say a gate would be more fitting there...so that the person can see all the way down the road...or at least beyond the wall...but maybe that was your intention.

But this gives me the impression of someone waiting for a posse to return home from catching someone to be hung. While the person is praying that their father...husband returns safely, however this would mean that they either failed or the noose will be used the next morning.

There is a juxtaposition of feeling there with the images...thats about all I have to say

I hope this helps

Rev Phil

Answer 7

Very nice work. The noose could potentially represent life...as death is inevitable. The angle may represent a guardian or the hereafter. The candle is the light in the darkness. The path and gate represent one's journey through life. So, although life takes one on a pathway to death, there is always joy and hope. Thus, a peaceful image. I don't usually attempt to interpret art because many times the artist was simply painting thoughts that were not intended to represent anything.

Answer 8

If you painted it, then you are the only one who knows if you meant the images to be symbolic. I see it from the vantage point of a person inside looking out the window. It looks to me like weighing options - stay inside with the candle and the angel, go outside to the noose, or escape through the gate into the moonlit night. Nice composition, btw.

Answer 9

I see a scared person looking out of the window gazing at the full moon. Although the tree is dead the grass is green so perhaps you are wondering about death. The noose to me says that maybe life has a strangling effect yet you are protecting yourself with the angel and the "Light". And the cross at the top of the window arch tells me that you will be fine. Nice work. Glad I stumbled across this question while asking my own about crystallized honey. Happy Holidays. Enjoy everything you can:)

Answer 10

I think on first viewing the noose is what you focus on and that initial feeling is of death - which is a negative fearful feeling. However on zooming in on the angel this brought some peace to the picture, although generally I had a feeling of anxiety over the noose hanging from the tree, almost waiting for its next victim