Van Eych’s – Arnolfini Wedding Portrait – 1434
National Museum, UK
I’ve mentioned before that I start off my day by reading and reciting a poem. A couple of days ago, I read The Wedding by Francine Conley. It got me thinking. Here is what I wrote in my journal.
Often Francine’s introduction to her poem is a reference to a painting or a quote. I find it online and study it. Trying to absorb as much as I can before diving into her poem.
The Arnolfini Wedding Portrait is often included in art history books. It is amazing, proto-photorealism from the 15th century. This is the painting with the mirror on the back wall, showing the couple from behind and then beyond to people looking at the couple. The distant observers are indistinct. We could be the viewers, from 500 years in the future.
The poem describes the painting through its objects and symbolism. I find that poetry can have infinite interpretations. Each of us live in a unique universe, created by the Big Bang of our conception and then evolving, from the energy and dust, our lives. We live in our own bubble universes.
We, the viewers, know from history that the man is Giovanni Arnolfini. But who is his bride? Immediately, she becomes a possession, perfectly normal for the 15th century and all the centuries up until now. No name and his bride.
They stand in their bedroom, heavy crimson pillows, bed spread, and canopy, foreshadowing the virgin’s sacrifice. Francine captures the nuance of longing and delay that has built to this moment. But there is an undercurrent.
To the left, by the man’s foot is a pair of small wooden shoes. Francine refers to them as shackles. As a man, I immediately interpret them as the “old ball and chain” that men, jokingly, call their wives. But, the longer I stare at them, cast off in the first act of intimacy, I begin to see that they are her shackles. Temporarily removed to end their delay and longing. These restraints were put on her at birth and are meant to contain her life. Such as, keeping her legs together, maintaining her value, until she is acquired by the right man.
She and Giovanni have been in chains their entire lives. Intended to fulfill useful roles. However, Giovanni’s chains have loosened over time. He has been allowed to sample the world and learn to be a property owner. She has learned how to be property.
The chains lie on the floor. She is free to be used and made useful. He is free to be the user and fulfill his purpose. Soon the shackles will be clamped back into place. Her freedom is short and exists so she can be used and useful.
There are so many elements in the painting that deserve attention, but I will only mention one more. She is wearing a green dress, rich in detail and, in the style of the times, with the fabric bunched in front. She rests one hand on the mound of verdant green material.
The dress is a statement of her usefulness. Her hand rests lightly on the mound as if she was already soothing a child in her womb.
I’ll stop there and leave you to make your own story from the galactic dust of your experiences.