Frans Snyders, Fruit Stall. Flanders, Between 1618 and 1621. The State Hermitage Museum, Russia. Renaissance still life code

Renaissance still life code – Frans Snyders, Fruit Stall. Flanders, between 1618 and 1621. The State Hermitage Museum, Russia.
At the end of the Renaissance in northern Europe still life genre from decorative has become a philosophical statement in paints. XVI-XVIII century – a golden time in the history of European still life. In those years, there were two main schools of art, specializing in images of flowers, fruit and subjects – Flemish and Dutch. Despite the fact that Flanders (Belgium) and the Netherlands were the neighboring states, their artists had different meanings in the display of “dead nature” (still life in Flanders), or “quiet life” (in the Netherlands).
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The Fight Between Carnival and Lent. Pieter Bruegel the elder, Oil on wood. 1559. Vienna, Austria. Museum of Fine Arts

Sad Fight Between Carnival and Lent by Bruegel. The custom to hold carnival procession and presentation on Shrove Tuesday has lived up to our days. In medieval Europe, it was one of the most joyful and favorite holidays. In fact, after it began forty days of Lent, during which, according to Christian tradition, it is impossible to arrange any amusements. Sad holiday depicted in the painting by Bruegel. Fires of the Inquisition and the Spanish rule in the Netherlands did not allow reckless fun.
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Mother of God. Pure Soul of Russian lubok

Pure Soul of Russian lubok
Often found in the spiritual literature of XVII-XVIII centuries, the plot of “Pure Soul” goes back to the “Parable of the soul of the righteous”. In the parable of the Immaculate Virgin (on this subject even painted icons) – a symbol of purity and righteousness. “Decorated” with all the virtues,” she stands above the sun and the moon under Her feet.” Dragon, sun, moon, stars, eagle wings behind the back – everything sends the viewer right to Revelation (“And there appeared a great wonder in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars … And the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place on the face of the serpent, and where she is nourished for a time, times and half a time “(Rev., XII).
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The Great Wave off Kanagawa. Katsushika Hokusai code

Katsushika Hokusai code naturally meets the main principle of the Far Eastern philosophy: all things are born from the interaction of two opposing forces of cosmic order yin and yang. Yang – masculine, active, bright start; Yin – feminine, passive, dark. The Great Wave off Kanagawa depicts the moment of complete triumph of the feminine, a prisoner in a giant wave, ready to absorb the boat of fishermen. But in the view of the Japanese, none of the forces can fully take precedence over the other, and at exact moment when the victory of one of them seems to be imminent, the pendulum begins to move in the opposite direction. So that efforts of the rowers are not in vain. Victory as a pledge of defeat.
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Page 60. Magnificent Book of Hours of Duc de Berry

Magnificent Book of Hours of Duc de Berry
The Limbourg brothers – Herman, Paul, and Johan were French painters, miniaturists, native of Nijmegen, the Northern Netherlands. They became famous thanks to the creation of “The Magnificent Book of Hours of Duc de Berry” (Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry). The Book of Hours is one of the most beautiful books in the history of world culture. The manuscript was launched by Limburg brothers between 1409 to 1416. The text itself, uppercase letters, decorations and gilding, most likely made ​​by other mastrers. The Limbourg brothers did not finish the book. According to some reports, they died in 1416 of the plague. Of 129 miniatures of the manuscript during the life of the Limburg brothers were performed 65.
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American Gothic inspiration

American Gothic inspiration. After the appearance of the iconic image in newspapers, the public reaction was tough. One farmer even threatened to bite the artist’s ear. “American Gothic» – a famous 1930 painting by American artist Grant DeVolson Wood (February 13, 1891 – February 12, 1942). One of the most recognizable images in American art of the XX century, along with the “Mona Lisa” by Leonardo da Vinci and “The Scream” by Edvard Munch, and, concurrently, the source of huge amount of projections, legends, parodies, famous art meme of the XX and XXI centuries. In Russia, oddly enough, it is not as popular as worldwide.
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‘Las Meninas’. Spanish painter Diego Velazquez, 1656

Las Meninas reality and illusion. Las Meninas, or “The Maids of Honor” by Spanish painter Diego Velazquez is unique both as the product of master, and as the first image of the hidden life of the court. Court painter of King Philip IV – Diego Velazquez finished working on the painting “Las Meninas” in 1656. Art critics still argue what scene is depicted by the artist, raising questions about reality and illusion. Some of them state that the painting has no general plot and is a bit of instant photography. Much more common are two other points of view. According to the first, Velazquez painted the portrait of the time of the Spanish king and queen, when their daughter entered the studio – Infanta Margarita. The other version – the Infanta herself was a model of the artist, and her parents came to visit their daughter. There are philosophical interpretations, e.g. in the look of the artist is seen a devotional respect for his crowned lord.
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