Art Appreciation
Deciphering 4 Masterpiece Paintings with Enigmatic Narratives
Why interpreting women in art is not always easy
Interpreting paintings undoubtedly relies on an accurate reading of the contents of a work. But what happens when appearances are misleading?
Take the case of the remarkable Arnolfini Portrait by Jan van Eyck, which shows a couple inside a private room, appearing to make an oath to one another — perhaps as part of a marriage ceremony.
The image is abundant with symbolic suggestions that urge the viewer to connect the dots into a story, from the mysterious mirror on the back wall to the presence of a single flaming candle in the chandelier above the man’s head — whilst a recently burnt out candle sits above the woman’s.
Perhaps most noticeable is the woman’s swollen form, giving the distinct impression that she’s carrying a baby.
The precise meaning of the painting continues to divide historians. One intriguing reading is that this is a commemorative object in honour of the woman who has recently died. With the appearance of being pregnant…
