Jeanne d'Arc's Death at the Stake,
by Hermann Stilke (1803–1860)
To commemorate All Hallow's Eve and All Saints Day, I present to you this post on my patron saint, Jeanne D'Arc. I've chosen this painting to illustrate iconic realism. Images merge
within this painting of Jeanne d’Arc to provide an interpretation that represents
the presence of hope that humanity, with all its industry, will recognize the
value in the temporal nature of innocence. Interpretation of this work of art may include a
variety of perspectives to complement the number of viewers of the specific
art. At this moment of perception,
then, the artist and the viewer become collaborators.
Once this
cognitive collaboration between artist and
viewer occurs, the cultural interpretation begins to transform into a
collection of new perspectives, based on the historicity of the viewers. Nicholas
Davey states, “Hermeneutic thought articulates the conviction that art does not
represent (vorstellen), copy or
falsify the given world but allows that which is within the world to present (darstellen) or actualize itself (verwirklichen) more fully.” [1]
New perceptions of a creative work shape newly actualized interpretations of
the original work of art, which eventually become accepted interpretations of a
community. Once the community recognizes these interpretations, the iconic
becomes a reality.
[1] Davey, Nicholas. “Hermeneutics and Art Theory.” A Companion to Art
Theory. eds. Paul Smith and Carolyn Wilde. (Oxford:
Blackwell, 2002) 149.
