연합뉴스
| yna@yna.co.kr 2023-04-18 10:35:45
By Do Gwang-hwan
SEOUL April 18 (Yonhap) -- Both Natural Disasters and Wars are catastrophies to humanity.
Within the context of world history, natural disasters and wars are considered as shackles or a fetter. Natural disasters such as earthquakes, volcanic eruption, hail, flood, forest fire, and more often break out unexpectedly, leaving the victims devastated. Those who face these natural disasters are left with no other choice but to quietly embrace the consequences.
The last day of Pompeii is considered one of the most tragic moments in human history according to written documents. In 79 AD, Mountain Vesuvius in Italy erupted and the city of Pompeii which was known for exceeding the population of over 200 thousand dwellers have vanished completely over the night and was forgotten throughout the histroy.
Gaius Plinius Secundus, a Roman author, philosopher, natural historian and more, also known as the Pliny the Elder, who is famous for his publishing, “Naturalis Historia” was killed due to the volcanic eruption.
Due to the excavation done during the mid 18 century , the last day of Pompeii has become famous throughout the world. By carefully investigating the wall paintings, and relics buried within the site of Pompeii, the historical background of the era.
Various painters and artist also worked on the tragic day of Pompeii. One of the most well known work on the last day of Pompeii is titled “The Last day of Pompeii” by the Russian artist “Karl Bryullov” (1799-1852).
Artist Karl Bryullov, visited Pompeii on 1827 and studied the relics and historical site for six years to finish his masterpiece on 1833. The painting “The Last Day of Pompeii” struck the western art scene. Majority of the opinion leaders within the era continuously praised the work done by Karl Bryullov.
The drawing “The Last Day of Pompeii” seems as if Karl Bryullov finished his work while witnessing the tragedy. As if the artist has witness the scene, he decided to include himself within the painting. The one evacuating on the left with stove top over his head is the artist himself.
When looking deeply into the tragedy, one can witness the love blooming in-between various tragic incidents. Maybe the true meaning behind the Karl Bryullov’s painting “The Last Day of Pompeii” was not only to recreate the historical event but to showcase the idea of true love despite of the tragic disaster.
If the natural disaster is something that one cannot avoid and enforced upon people by Mother Nature; war is something which could have been avoidable but us has human did not. War is considerably the worst creation made by humanity.
There are infinite amount of paintings which depict war. One of the paintings which portray the scene of war very boldly brings sadness and discomfort to viewers heart. The painting depicts the pain and chaos delivered by the death of others.
This is a painting, titled “Gassed”(1919) by American artist John Singer Sargent (1856-1925).
Two of the biggest characteristics of the First World War are usage of gas and trench warfare. As depicted throughout the painting, those who are exposed to significant amount of poisonous gas lost their sense of sight; therefore soldiers had to move around in a single file with their hands on other soldier’s shoulders. Soldiers who were not able to move around or dead throughout the war has been left on the street without supervision or help.
Artist John Singer Sargent is a talented portrait painter where his talents led him to draw and paint various portraits of those who belong within the high class. However when he first visited the western borderline during the First World War, he was bombarded with the reality of war; therefore he decided to paint the scene on sight. As a result artist did not work on the portrait for a while.
For artists, paintbrushes, and instruments are used to publically address accusation, or to bring repentance. John Singer Sargent decided to create the gigantic painting which is over 6m wide by using monotonous color way to amplify the misery and uneasy truth behind reality.
Continuing on, the painting reminds me of the work “The Blind Leading the Blind”(1568) by the artist Pieter Bruegel the Elder (1525?-1569).
Currently Turkey and Syria is going through a unimaginable pain due to a severe earthquake which took place recently. Moreover in Ukraine, due to the unfortunate nature of war, the country is going through severe economic halt and paralysis. April 24 marks one year of the war which broke out between Russia and Ukraine.
As time goes by, people are getting dull about subjects such as death, tragedy, injuries, and more. Humanity needs to face the truth and reality and one should never be comfortable around such subjects. We need to work together to escape the nature of getting used to.
Feeling the emotional change when introduced with the news regarding war, natural disaster, is a sign of love. When love becomes substantiated, one will be granted with the power to overcome the difficulties. Those who survive the natural disaster is left with the duty to overcome such hardship.
Let’s try to remember the positive days portrayed throughout the painting “Hip, Hip, Hurrah!” (1888) by the Danish painter Peder Severin Kroyer (1851-1909).
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