Art Analysis: The Ash Yggdrasil

954 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Greek mythology and Norse mythology

Friedrich Wilhelm Heine
The Ash Yggdrasil
1886
Illustrated in a book, written by Dr. W. Wägner: “Asgard and the gods”
F. W. Heine was known for his paintings of stories from Norse mythology. “The Ash Yggdrasil” is virtually the most comprehensive and fundamental picture, which represents Norse mythology, because Yggdrasil is one of the central elements in the religious beliefs of ancient Scandinavians. It symbolizes the universe and its structure, like people of those days used to interpret their vision of the world system. It is unknown authentically what material exactly the painter used to draw this picture, but we can presume that it was charcoal or a pencil, as F. W. Heine was also a sketch artist.
This picture enables us to be absorbed …show more content…

He illustrated numerous books of different German writers; among them was the Rudolf’s Herzog’s product – “Germaniens Götter”, where the illustration “Ask and Embla” appeared. This picture tells us a story about the creation of the first humans at the Norse mythology. The subject of the picture is: the trio of gods are gifting the first humans with life. Ask and Embla are rather popular figures not only at the Norse mythology, but also they have been the subject of a number of references and artistic depictions. We can compare the story of Ask and Embla to the story of Adam and Eve from the Bible – the ancestors of all humans. The difference between these two couples consists in the fact that Ask and Embla were humans from the very beginning and Adam and Eve were gods, but they were expulsed from Eden for the …show more content…

And then they saw two trees, the first one was big and strong and the second one was thin and trembling. The Gods thought that it was a perfect choice. The youngest brother made up two bodies, heads, ears, mouths and the whole skin; the middle one taught them to walk and think; and the eldest brother breathed a life and soul in them. According to the picture we can presume that the naked man who holds the body is the youngest brother, the curly naked man who stands aside is the middle brother and the only one dressed man on the painting is the eldest brother. The very first man was given a name Ask, which means Ash Tree and the very first woman was called Embla, which means Water Pot, to make people remember of what exactly the Gods created

Show More
Related

  • Analysis Of Sovereign Plumed Serpent And Heart Of The Sky

    842 Words  | 2 Pages

    At the beginning of time only the Gods where living, until one day Sovereign Plumed Serpent and Heart of the Sky, named Hurricane, created trees, bushes, and life. Bearer Begetter was the creator or animals big and small, like birds, deers, jaguars, pumas, and serpents. When the Gods created animals they created them for the sole purpose of being worshiped by them. However, when they realized that the animals could not speak they decided they would be sent to live in the woods and fend for themselves. After this Xpiyacoc and Xmucane attempted to make humans, but instead of not being able to speak. They appeared to be too unnatural and decided to call them manikins or wood carvings so, Heart of the Sky creates a flood killing them off. It is believed that monkeys look like humans because they are the manikins who survived the flood by climbing onto trees.

    Read More

  • Art Analysis Of Corrinne Terrace By Ian Strange

    759 Words  | 2 Pages

    ‘Corrinne Terrace’ by Ian Strange was created in 2011. Strange is an Australian, New York based artist whose work relates to the themes of identity and home. The ‘Suburban’ collection features a series of eight abandoned suburban houses which have been transformed by spray painting specific shapes and patterns over particular sections of the houses. Some houses have been repainted using a single colour, and in one case, set on fire. The image depicts a house which has been painted black with the exception of a white circle which has been left from when the house was previously painted.

    Read More

  • Buddhist Art Analysis Essay

    501 Words  | 2 Pages

    The two pieces of art that I have chosen to compare is the ‘Green Tara 14th century’ and ‘Tara 19th century’ which are both from the collection at the Rubin Museum of Art. The Green Tara sculpture is from central Tibet and is made of Gilt copper alloy. The Tara 19th century is from Kham province in Tibet and is painted with pigments on a piece of cloth.

    Read More

  • Gender In Karen Horney's The Distrust Between The Sexes?

    1173 Words  | 3 Pages

    From the very beginning of time we have Adam and Eve from the Christian bible. The story has been told in many different ways, including in plays, and sometimes teaches more than just about god. Eve is made from one of Adam’s ribs. Once the two eat from the tree of knowledge, they are to be punished from eating the forbidden apples that introduced sin into the world. God puts the curse of bearing children on Eve, because she was the first to bite and then tempted Adam. “Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and

    Read More

  • Kathe Kollwitz

    1081 Words  | 3 Pages

    As the German painter and sculptor, Kathe Kollwitz conveyed in her statement that the art she created held the burden of transfiguration. The fixation of sorrow and hardship that occurred while she sat huddled with the children was the driving force of her drawings. Her realization that art could not only be an escape from the horror happenings in Germany such as the rationing of food and the starving-to-death children at that time was also a way to voice her opinion of change and revolution. It was the quest, in which she enamored in her drawings and it is this feeling that I value from it. I choose this artist because she delineated the various circumstances surrounding the human individual, she took into account perspectives that involved life with its tragedies, and the lives of little angel children. Her drawings and sculptures were prepared to emulate and capture what her eyes had seen while she was in Germany and this is why I had taken a likening to her drawings. The two artworks that I am specifying in this research paper is the drawing labeled “Germany's children starve!” and”Self-Portrait, Hand at the Forehead (Selbstbildnis mit der Hand an der Stirn)”.

    Read More

  • Art Analysis

    965 Words  | 2 Pages

    Though most works of art have some underlying, deeper meaning attached to them, our first impression of their significance comes through our initial visual interpretation. When we first view a painting or a statue or other piece of art, we notice first the visual details – its size, its medium, its color, and its condition, for example – before we begin to ponder its greater significance. Indeed, these visual clues are just as important as any other interpretation or meaning of a work, for they allow us to understand just what that deeper meaning is. The expression on a statue’s face tells us the emotion and message that the artist is trying to convey. Its color, too, can provide clues: darker or lighter colors can play a role in how we judge a piece of art. The type of lines used in a piece can send different messages. A sculpture, for example, may have been carved with hard, rough lines or it may have been carved with smoother, more flowing lines that portray a kind of gentleness.

    Read More

  • Comparison Of Enuma Elish And Genesis

    785 Words  | 2 Pages

    Once again the stories show resemblance while in Genesis man is created from the earth, in Enuma Elish man is created from the blood of Kingu. Each story provides that humans are made in the image of a God. While both Genesis and Enuma Elish provide

    Read More

  • Cain and Abel: A Society of Choices

    388 Words  | 1 Pages

    In the Bible [Genesis 4:1-8] we learn the story of two brothers, one called Cain, and the other Abel. Cain and Abel were the sons of Adam and Eve who were the first humans created by Jehovah. Abel was a shepherd and Cain was a farmer.

    Read More

  • Myth Vs Greek Mythology

    1258 Words  | 3 Pages

    Every ancient society and civilization has creation myths that were passed down and keep alive throughout the passing of time by word of mouth. These myths are the world’s oldest stories and are vital to these cultures because they explain their beginnings and give purpose to their existence. By analyzing and interpreting different creation myths it becomes easier to understand different cultures and their connections and relationships with heir beliefs and god(s).

    Read More

  • Folklorico Art Analysis

    1091 Words  | 3 Pages

    “Dance is movement aware of itself. Dance is purposeful movement that employs artful communication to express ideas and feelings, meaning that aesthetic intention is present” (Cornett, 2014, p 394). Art could be anywhere and anything it just needs to have creativity in order to make it unique and beautiful. One simple art form, could speak for a thousand words and convey many significant messages such as the art form of dance. Baile Folklorico is a great example of communicating in a unique and a stunning art form. Baile Folklorico is a folk dance that elaborates different dances, music and costumes to represent a Latin or Mexican culture.

    Read More

  • Art Analysis Of The Survivors, By Kathe Kollwitz

    1159 Words  | 3 Pages

    The artwork I chose for the art criticism project was ‘The Survivors’ by Kathe Kollwitz. The piece was created in 1923 in Berlin, Germany, where she resided with her husband. She and her husband resided in a poorer area, and it is believed to have contributed too much of her artwork style. ‘The Survivors’ is currently displayed in two museums, the MoMA and the Kathe Kollwitz Museum. In the piece there is a woman directly in the middle, with sunken in cheek bones is draped in a black cloak. Her arms are around three small children, who look very frightened. On each side of her body there are an additional four small children who convey sadness upon their innocent faces. Also, they are outstretching their arms as if they are begging for her to give them something. In the background, on the top left side, there are two elderly men with their heads down, looking as if they are very sad and

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Michelangelo's Creation Of Adam

    1472 Words  | 3 Pages

    4).14 Painted on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City between 1508 and 1512, Michelangelo’s series represent several narratives from the bible. This painting is considered to be the most outstanding series of illustrations depicting biblical stories that were ever produced. It has also been suggested that the figures in the frescoes reflect Michelangelo’s personal Humanist philosophies. He believed that “the body should be celebrated as a reflection of both divine beauty and the beauty of the human soul”.15 The Creation of Adam, in particular, demonstrates the exact moment when God stretches out his finger and gives life to Adam, the first human. In this image, Adam on the left is portrayed completely nude as he sits languidly on the Earth. On the right, God’s presence appears assertive while he floats amongst several biblical figures in the sky. As their fingers do not touch, it is indicated that Adam is yet to receive the gift of intellect and

    Read More

  • The Shinto vs. Genesis Creation Story

    2195 Words  | 5 Pages

    First, let us analyze the particulars of the Christian Genesis story as to begin formulating the basis of comparison and contrast. We shall look at the two parts of Genesis, the first discussing the formulation of earth and its inner particulars, in concert with the first few verses associated with the second part of Genesis, which touches on the creation of the first man and woman:

    Read More

  • The Assyrian Sacred Tree

    1925 Words  | 4 Pages

    The “Sacred Tree,” (fig. 1) was originally positioned behind the king’s throne. The scene shows two genii, sometimes with birds’ heads and sometimes with men’s heads and the horned hats of gods. Each of the winged figures holds a bucket and reaches out with an oval object toward a stylized “tree.” The composition has been read as being based on bilateral symmetry, with the vertical stalk-like structure crowned by a palmette. A meticulous examination reveals that although balanced, it has many discrepancies on both sides that deviate from perfect mirror symmetry. Ashurnasirpal appears twice, shown from two sides, dressed in ceremonial robes and holding a mace connoting his authority. The figure of the king on the right makes an invocative gesture a god in a winged disk in the top center of the relief. Ashur, the national god or Shamash, the god of the sun and justice, may be identified as the god who confers the king divine right. On the left, the king holds a ring, an ancient Mesopotamian symbol of divine kingship, in one...

    Read More

  • The Relationship Between Adam And Eve In Milton's Paradise Lost

    786 Words  | 2 Pages

    Adam and Eve’s initial creations are described as “Hee for God only, shee for the God in him[Adam]” (4.289). They is an initial inequality in their creation since Adam when created was done soley for God, while Eve was created for Adam and in part for God as well since she is not “only” for Adam. Eve was created after Adam, but this does not mean that she is inferior to Adam, it merely means that during their initial creation, their purposes were different. When created Eve knew nothing the world for which she was created as is seen with her confusion with what the water was since it “to her [Eve] seemed another Skie”(4.459). Eve was vulnerable and innocent when entering her relationship with Adam and as time passes, she was able to grow and better understand her role in their bond, when Eve is able to make decisions on her own as is seen in book 9 of paradise lost with her decision to separate from Adam. Their relationship grows and eventually they are able to function as

    Read More

More about Art Analysis: The Ash Yggdrasil

Open Document