PRIMORDIAL LOVE
1989, 70x90cm, Bright oil on canvas
Self-portrait of the painter with his wife, newly married.
The work “Primordial Love,” created in 1989 with bright oil on canvas, is a self-portrait of the artist with his wife, newly married. The scene takes place in a landscape rich in details and symbolism, where lush nature and architectural elements create a timeless atmosphere, suspended between myth, history, and dream.
Description of the scene:
At the center of the composition, the couple is represented in evocative attire: the man wears a red cloak and holds a flute, while the woman is wrapped in a light drape and caresses a rabbit. At their feet, a tiger with a proud gaze and vibrant colors seems to act as a guardian, symbolizing strength, passion, and protection. The rabbit, on the other hand, represents fertility, sweetness, and innocence, creating an interesting contrast between wild instinct and the delicacy of love.
Description of the characters:
The background is animated by a variety of characters and animals, each with a possible symbolic interpretation. On the left, a medieval musician with a musical instrument symbolizes the harmony between love and art, recalling music as an expression of feelings and beauty. Not far away, among the trees, a man with a torch can be glimpsed, representing knowledge, inner passion, or the sacred fire of life. On the right, a woman dressed in a tricolor dress, reminiscent of the Italian flag, introduces a reference to national identity, suggesting a link between conjugal love and a sense of cultural belonging. This solemn figure could embody an allegorical idea of the homeland, an echo of the “Italia Turrita” from classical artistic representations.
Symbolic meaning:
Among other symbolic elements, certain objects scattered throughout the scene stand out. In the lower left, an open book could represent knowledge, the narration of the couple’s story. On the right, amphoras and crockery refer to nourishment and abundance, suggesting an idea of sharing and prosperity. In the background, a fortified city and a sky crossed by birds in flight evoke the idea of a journey, both physical and spiritual, through time and space.
Description of the painting technique:
From a technical point of view, the artist uses meticulous and detailed painting, with precise brushstrokes that recall the Flemish tradition in the rendering of details. The use of bright oil helps to give luminosity to the colors, making the scene intense and vibrant. The chromatic palette is dominated by warm and earthy tones, such as the red of the cloak, the orange of the tiger, and the green of the vegetation, balanced by colder shades in the sky and water. The diffused light confers a dreamlike atmosphere, accentuating the fairy-tale character of the composition.
Conclusion:
The title Primordial Love suggests a deep and instinctive union between the two protagonists, a love that has its roots in the essential elements of life: passion, sweetness, protection, knowledge, and spirituality. The work thus presents itself as a celebration of conjugal love, but also as a reflection on more universal themes, intertwining mythological, historical, and symbolic references in a complex and fascinating visual narrative.
Self-portrait of the painter with his wife, newly married.
The work “Primordial Love,” created in 1989 with bright oil on canvas, is a self-portrait of the artist with his wife, newly married. The scene takes place in a landscape rich in details and symbolism, where lush nature and architectural elements create a timeless atmosphere, suspended between myth, history, and dream.
Description of the scene:
At the center of the composition, the couple is represented in evocative attire: the man wears a red cloak and holds a flute, while the woman is wrapped in a light drape and caresses a rabbit. At their feet, a tiger with a proud gaze and vibrant colors seems to act as a guardian, symbolizing strength, passion, and protection. The rabbit, on the other hand, represents fertility, sweetness, and innocence, creating an interesting contrast between wild instinct and the delicacy of love.
Description of the characters:
The background is animated by a variety of characters and animals, each with a possible symbolic interpretation. On the left, a medieval musician with a musical instrument symbolizes the harmony between love and art, recalling music as an expression of feelings and beauty. Not far away, among the trees, a man with a torch can be glimpsed, representing knowledge, inner passion, or the sacred fire of life. On the right, a woman dressed in a tricolor dress, reminiscent of the Italian flag, introduces a reference to national identity, suggesting a link between conjugal love and a sense of cultural belonging. This solemn figure could embody an allegorical idea of the homeland, an echo of the “Italia Turrita” from classical artistic representations.
Symbolic meaning:
Among other symbolic elements, certain objects scattered throughout the scene stand out. In the lower left, an open book could represent knowledge, the narration of the couple’s story. On the right, amphoras and crockery refer to nourishment and abundance, suggesting an idea of sharing and prosperity. In the background, a fortified city and a sky crossed by birds in flight evoke the idea of a journey, both physical and spiritual, through time and space.
Description of the painting technique:
From a technical point of view, the artist uses meticulous and detailed painting, with precise brushstrokes that recall the Flemish tradition in the rendering of details. The use of bright oil helps to give luminosity to the colors, making the scene intense and vibrant. The chromatic palette is dominated by warm and earthy tones, such as the red of the cloak, the orange of the tiger, and the green of the vegetation, balanced by colder shades in the sky and water. The diffused light confers a dreamlike atmosphere, accentuating the fairy-tale character of the composition.
Conclusion:
The title Primordial Love suggests a deep and instinctive union between the two protagonists, a love that has its roots in the essential elements of life: passion, sweetness, protection, knowledge, and spirituality. The work thus presents itself as a celebration of conjugal love, but also as a reflection on more universal themes, intertwining mythological, historical, and symbolic references in a complex and fascinating visual narrative.