Art - Rembrandt's "The Return of the Prodigal Son"
Dear Everyone,
As I mentioned previously, art plays a very important role in my novel, "Gabriel's Inferno." Without posting spoilers, I'll simply point out that sometimes the mention of a particular painting carries with it either a back story or an element of foreshadowing.
There is a scene, for example, in which I mention Rembrandt's The Return of the Prodigal Son. Rembrandt's painting illustrates a story from the Bible - Jesus' parable of the Prodigal Son, which is told in the Gospel according to St. Luke 15:11-32. There are at least two interpretations of the parable...
http://www.sylvainreynard.com/2011/05...
As I mentioned previously, art plays a very important role in my novel, "Gabriel's Inferno." Without posting spoilers, I'll simply point out that sometimes the mention of a particular painting carries with it either a back story or an element of foreshadowing.
There is a scene, for example, in which I mention Rembrandt's The Return of the Prodigal Son. Rembrandt's painting illustrates a story from the Bible - Jesus' parable of the Prodigal Son, which is told in the Gospel according to St. Luke 15:11-32. There are at least two interpretations of the parable...
http://www.sylvainreynard.com/2011/05...
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Hi Miss Sara,I had to take a closer look at the father's hands in response to your comment. One thing I noticed was that the hands were flat on the son's back - they weren't clenched into fists, or gripping the son harshly.
Can you say a bit more about what you see?
And thanks for this,
SR
Hello SR , The way I see it , his left hand it's kind of feminine looking hand compare to the right one...does the figure of the father symbolizes the role of the both parents maybe..mothers give blessing and forgive too....just a thought.
Here is excerpt from the same book that SR is reading,on what the authors is making about the hands : "Often I have asked friends to give me their first impression of Rembrandt's Prodigal Son. Inevitably, they point to the wise old man who forgives his son: the benevolent patriarch.
"The longer I look at 'the patriarch', the clearer it becomes to me that Rembrandt has done something quite different from letting God pose as the wise old head of a family. It all began with the hands. The two are quite different. The father's left hand touching the son's shoulder is strong and muscular. The fingers are spread out and cover a large part of the prodigal son's shoulder and back. I can see a certain pressure, especially in the thumb. That hand seems not only to touch, but, with its strength, also to hold. Even though there is a gentleness in the way the father's left hand touches his son, it is not without a firm grip.
"How different is the father's right hand! This hand does not hold or grasp. It is refined, soft, and very tender. The fingers are close to each other and they have an elegant quality. It lies gently upon the son's shoulder. It wants to caress, to stroke, and to offer consolation and comfort. It is a mother's hand....
"As soon as I recognized the difference between the two hands of the father, a new world of meaning opened up for me. The Father is not simply a great patriarch. He is mother as well as father. He touches the son with a masculine hand and a feminine hand. He holds, and she caresses. He confirms and she consoles. He is , indeed, God, in whom both manhood and womanhood, fatherhood and motherhood, are fully present. That gentle and caressing right hand echoes for me the words of the prophet Isaiah: "Can a woman forget her baby at the breast, feel no pity for the chile she has borne? Even if these were to forget, I shall not forget you. Look, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.".....
.. , and just bc, i liked the drawing :)...any other speculation ??
Thanks for this Sara!Interesting observation. I confess I didn't notice the difference between the hands and had to go back and look ... and look ... I thought the angle of the hands was what was making the difference.
Thanks for pointing this out!
SR
enjoying the painting and convos. ;)
Thank you SR.
P.S Looking closely to the painting, it seems to me that the hands of the father are different,does the painter is trying to give some message...or perhaps my vision is not clear.