THE ANALOGY OF “MYSTICAL INITIATION” AND OBJECT SYMBOLISM IN “ARNOLFINI’S WEDDING”

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Objects have been considered as a participating concept of art probably as early as talismans in shaman rituals. Certain items used in our everyday life retain their artistic/spiritual context as well as being functionally relevant. For that reason object symbolism in art goes hand in hand with functionality. My current work is an analogical instigation of Jan van Eyck’s “Arnolfini’s Wedding” painting with a focus on J. Gage’s understanding as he defines in his book “Colour and Culture” . According to Gage, the inner/spiritual meaning of the painting is an mystical initiation. Initiation is a ritual, upon which, one would acquire superior qualities by going through a series of challenges. This is observed in all religions and myths and a prototypical archetype of re-birth (Campell, 2014). According to Jung, archetypes remain throughout eras but only revitalize with a different name (Jung, 2003). Both in 20th century art and current ready-made placements, one can trace the spiritual meaning of belief in “Arnolfini’s Wedding”. Art, throughout time, has been fed by primitive/ancient concepts and understandings. This is a yielding to the roots of conventional.

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Painting , archetype , conventional symbolism , initiation

Yildiz Journal Of Art an‎d Design

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Yildiz Journal Of Art an‎d Design