Melancholia I: Summary, Composition, and Different Interpretations

ARTICLE REVIEW: VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS
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Article Review: Visual and Performing Arts
Summary of the Art and the Composition
Phillip Sohm introduces the origin of Melancholia I, as done by Duer in 1514 during the German renaissance. He mentions the other engravings like Jerome's art done around that time. He notes that the religious, astrological, societal, and every other view is accorded to this engraving, further doing a differential analysis on how different people viewed the artwork. Thare are explanations of every item in the engraving, from the woman, the working and sculptring tools, the lying lamb, the comet ball, the creation of God sitting on the elaveted seat and God as the creator. Further explanations are given on every aspect that influenced the architectural aspect of the art, from geometry, color, physics and their meanings. Mathematical analysis like the radii of feet, and a rainbow from the inner section are as well explained. This is represented by mathematical pattern in the original engraving. He explains and interprets every item in the image, and the perception people accorded them. An example is the last judgment, which the author refers to, keeping his focus wider. He presents God as an architect who determined the size of the earth using a compass when creating. Later, he clears the misunderstandings around geometry, astronomy, science, and the myths of measurements. Finally, he ends his writing by elaborating scientific vanity with examples of death illustrated by comets.[Sohm, L., P. Dürer's "Melencolia I": The Limits of Knowledge. Studies in the History of Art. (1980). 9. 13-32.] [Ibid.]
Analysis of the Technique used by the Writer
From the explanations, Sohm's interpretation goes a long way to give the history, and a chronological illustration of every item in Melancholia I. The first is the idea of this artists compared to similar productions during the same time. This is evident when he brings St. Jerome's engraving into the picture. It is a perfect juxtaposition leaving the reader to judge which is easy to udnerstand. This is extibited by the painting of St. Jerome, on page 15 as he was studying and Melancolia in the previous page. When one checkes the St. Jerome artowkr, it is not clear what other items in the image syumboized, unlike the Melancolia I which has a lot of information explained. Sohm proceeds to give lots of mathematical interpretation, especially geometry from the background, the choices, and later compares several items linked to symmetry. Without many struggles, one understands the meaning of the radii of the rainbow and feet are clear. This analysis is better than most analyses as it covers broad and extensive topics of the painting, and how the artist used them to draw attention and meaning to his readers.
The different angles of Sohm's inte...