The Symbolic Objects in Art: Yesterday & Today

 

Props add to the Visual Experience

Knowing how objects can communicate a different meaning within your art will give you the opportunity to collect props which might be readily available in your house. I don’t know about you, but I love a good prop, especially one with added meaning.

A Painter Obsessed with Symbolism

William Holman Hunt was an English painter and well known for his elaborate symbolism. Take a look at some of his paintings. You’ll see various random elements within his composition…but these aren’t arbitrary. The objects have a separate meaning…much like the apple represents Adam and Eve.

“When language was not transcendental enough to complete the meaning of a revelation, symbols were relied upon for heavenly teaching, and familiar images, chosen from the known, were made to mirror the unknown spiritual truth.” ~ William H. Hunt

Jan Brueghel the Elder and Rubens

In the book “How to Read a Painting: Lessons from the Old Masters” they analyze the symbolic references in this excellent painting collaborated by Jan Brueghel the Elder (see Day 341) and Pieter Paul Rubens (see Day 124). It’s an obvious picture of Adam and Eve in the Garden, but what else have these great masters included to give deeper meaning to the work of art?

The Peacock is a Christian symbol of eternal life and resurrection.

Here we have a monkey on the left eating an apple. The monkey is a symbol of the devil, or a fool. There’s also a monkey down at the bottom by the bird of paradise.

This is the Tree of Life and anyone who ate from it would be immortal. Here the artists have a goat trying to jump up it and the goat is symbolic for the devil.

Here we see the sneaky, slithering serpent (another symbol) talking eve into picking the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge. This is the calm before the storm…after they eat the fruit they are booted from Paradise and condemned to a rough life.

There’s also some grapes above Adam’s head which symbolize the wine that is transformed into Christ’s blood. And there’s an envious deer watching Eve hand Adam the apple…wishing he could have a bite.

Objects of Symbol in Gothic and Renaissance Periods

Here’s a great list of the symbols of yesterday…way before iPad’s and big screen HDTV’s. I find it pretty interesting to see all of the different ways objects can be used to communicate a story.

Whisk broom– symbolizes marital faith.

Mirror – signifies vanity or an introspective nature.

A knife in a loaf of bread– symbolizes holy communion.

The glowing candle – a symbolic reminder of Christ’s Passion.

A Childs toy – symbolizes the freedom and innocence of early life.

Glass prayer beads-symbolic of the all-seeing wisdom of God.

Coins  on top of a Bible – symbolizes the triumph of the material world over the pious and holy.

A red pillow– symbolizes  hedonism and  depravity of the soul.

A clock with missing hands – signifies mans powerlessness to control his own fate.

A lemon next to a salt shaker– symbolizes a doer of wicked deeds.

Hourglass – symbolizes the  inevitable passing of time and the certainty of death.

Nails/Nails  – The Crucifixion of Christ

An overturned copper tea kettle – symbolizes loss of faith.

A rabbit on a white or silver platter– implies fertility.

A club –  symbolizes martyrdom,  Saint Jude, one of the apostles, was beaten to death with a club.

A fluttering blue of white curtain– symbolizes a heavenly world in which the splendor of the holy and divine is only beginning to be shown.

An unsheathed knife near a money purse or pile of coins– denotes a rebellious and materialistic viewpoint.

A burned out candle – symbolizes a lack of devoutness and piety.

A white or blue pitcher and basin –  is a symbol of Purity, signifying clean thoughts and an uncorrupted essence.  The pitcher and basin are also symbolic of forgiveness of sins, cleansing, sanctification, unity with God, eternal life, glory, theosis.

A dirty window– suggests physical malady (usually a venereal disease or leprosy); a polluted body.

A spilled or overturned inkwell– symbolizes broken  promises, broken political treatise,missed chances.  If the spilled inkwell is on the desk of a Saint then this symbolizes martyrdom;  divine sufferers who spilled their blood in Gods name.

Lute – a musical instrument symbolic of romantic love.

Even more Symbolism including animals, objects, plants, inscriptions, and gemstones.

Modern Day Symbolism

There have always been symbols of the past, but what about the times we live in today? I thought it would be great to look at objects we use in everyday life and translate it into a visual symbol so it could be used in art. Of course, this is how I perceive these objects, and how they have been perceived in movies, jokes, everyday conversation/observation. Everyone will certainly have different views.  Try to imagine these things in a painting…how would they be perceived?

Clothing & Style

Louis Vuitton Bag – Rich, Fake, Materialistic, Money Hungry, Celebrity

Gold – Wealthy, Elderly, Antique, Ancient

Sports Jersey – Blue collar, Factory Worker, Jock, Poverty, Redneck

Tie-died shirt – Young, Hippie, Free Spirit, Artist

Camouflage– Military, Redneck, Hunter

Skinny Jeans– Rock Star, Follower, Trendy

Beanies in the Summer– Hipster, Follower, Trendy

Underwear out of Pants (sagging)– Youth, Rebellious, Poverty, Prison, Lazy, Disobedient

Pink (color) – Girly, Feminine, Happy

Black (color) – Gothic, Sophisticated

Ear Gauges – Hipster, Follower, Trendy

Dre’s Beats Headphones – Rapper Wannabe, Trendy, Follower

Fur Being Worn – Rich, Selfish, Snotty, Animal Killer

Backpack– Student, Young

Bluetooth Headset – Busy Lifestyle, Dorky

iPhone – Tech Savvy, Trendy, Artist

Outdoors

Mercedes Benz – Wealthy, Elderly, Spoiled, Snotty, Money Hungry

Rainbow – Beauty, Fresh, Pride Awareness

Hand Sanitizer -Health Conscious, Germaphobe

McDonald’s – Lazy, Poverty, Children, Obesity

Smoking Pipe – Sophisticated, Elderly, Deep Thinker

Cigarette – Uneducated, Prison, Poverty, Wannabe

Cigar – Wealthy, Snooty, Self Centered

Birds – Freedom, Care Free

Butterfly – Child, Care Free, Beauty

Sun – Warmth, Life, Fun, Spiritual

Corn -Monsanto, Evil, Fall Season

Indoors

Book -Intellectual, Relaxed

Globe –  Student, Educated, Traveler, Free Spirit

Passport – Well Traveled, Experienced, Free Spirit, Independent

Candle – Leisure, Relax, Romance

Crystal – Gypsy, Free Spirit

French Press Coffee – Hipster, Coffee Connoisseur

Starbucks– Young, Trendy, Corporation

Wine & glass – Leisure, Relax, Romance, Sophisticated

Budweiser – Redneck, Sports Fanatic, Follower, Blue Collar

Red Plastic Cup – Beer Pong, Alcohol, Party, College, Young, Trendy

Electric Guitar – Rock and Roller, Punker

Acoustic Guitar – Mellow, Sophisticated, Easy Going

Peach – Juicy, Woman, Vagina

Watermelon – Breasts, Summer

Grapes– Wine, Leisure, Wealth, Royalty

Banana – Monkey, Penis, Tropical Island

Strawberry – Leisure, Romance, Delectable

Chocolate – Liesure, Romance, Delectable

Donuts – Obesity, Cops, Morning

Hotdog – Summer, Man, Sports Fanatic, American, Redneck

I’m sure there are plenty more objects that can be listed, but this will get you started. Try to use these symbolic objects as props to tell a deeper story within your next artistic creation. Thanks for joining in, see you next time!