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Out of the Blues into the Blue: A Painting on Isolation

A Painting on Emerging from Isolation

While preparing my exhibition on Covid-19 in 2021, I began a few works that were less abstract. One was Out of the Blues into the Blue. Symbolism, archetypal figures and a more painterly approach came to the fore again.

Figure seen from behind, with outstretched arms between brown rock-like forms, facing a turquoise sea and sky
Out of the Blues into the Blue – contemporary ink painting

An old man—who happens to look rather like me—leaves his cave. Seen from behind, he opens his arms towards the blue of the sea and sky. His clothing could be a caveman’s fur or a monk’s robe. The forms around him seem to give way, clearing a path out of confinement.

Perhaps the picture is a little too melodramatic. But a good mood has a force of its own.

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Comments

21 responses to “Out of the Blues into the Blue: A Painting on Isolation”

  1. Dawn Pisturino avatar
    Dawn Pisturino

    For some reason, Moses came immediately into my mind. Very nice painting. Blue is my favorite color, and I like this painting very much.

    Reply
    1. Zettl avatar
      Zettl

      Thank you for your response! Yes, of course, the thought of Moses comes to mind. For me, however, this sharing of the floods through Moses is an archetypal phenomenon and less of a miracle from the Christian West. But everyone sees something different in a picture, according to their mental attitude, knowledge of art …..

      Reply
  2. Martha Kennedy avatar
    Martha Kennedy

    I don’t think the painting is at all melodramatic. The figure seems small, strong, determined and maybe pretty sure he’s up against something that might be beyond his strength. His footwear aren’t the best for a task like this which is an important detail (to me) saying we just have the tools we have at any given moment. Sisyphus is the archetype that comes to my mind when I see the figure as pushing against the rocks. BUT I also see a figure struggling to climb up to see beyond the rocks. The image is vague enough to offer the viewer a lot to think about.

    Reply
  3. Zettl avatar
    Zettl

    Thank you Martha! Your professional eye immediately caught an important point: the shoes. Sandals? Fixed shoes? Barefoot? Add a shadow?

    You know Goethe’s sentence: “2 hearts beat, oh, in my chest”. Even as a teenager, I thought to myself: It’s good, ONLY 2 hearts.

    Sysiphus struggles with his stone and again I thought to myself: ONLY 1 stone …..

    BTW: For many years I often had the following dream: I was stuck in a narrow pit made entirely of gravel and I tried to fight my way up. And just as I got to the top, the gravel gave way and I slid back onto the ground. A friend then reminded me that this was of course a Sysiphus symbol. Soon afterwards the dream phase stopped.

    Reply
    1. Martha Kennedy avatar
      Martha Kennedy

      Very interesting dream and interesting (and to me new) quote from Goethe. The Blue — thought of Valery’s poem, “Palme” of which I really only know 4 lines and they are:

      “Patience, patience.
      Patience dans l’azur
      chaque atome de silence
      est la chance d’un fruit mûr!” I guess that’s what keeps Sysiphus pushing…

      Reply
      1. Zettl avatar
        Zettl

        What a beautiful poem.I wouldn’t have been surprised if it was a Zen Buddhist poem.

      2. Zettl avatar
        Zettl

        Thank you for the link! I sure will check. I always liked Paul Valery a lot – but only read a few poems. And don’t worry, my French also doesn’t allow reading the original. But it helps to get a better understanding – sometimes 😉

      3. Martha Kennedy avatar
        Martha Kennedy

        I do that, too. I check back from an English translation. I’m glad, at least, I can do that, thanks to French films. 🙂

      4. Zettl avatar
        Zettl

        Learning a language by watching films is one of the best ways. If one is on a low level it helps to watch the film in ones native language and afterwards the original. People from northern European countries speak such a good English. One of the reasons: even on TV they very often broadcast without translations.

      5. Martha Kennedy avatar
        Martha Kennedy

        Subtitles work well, too. I didn’t even realize I had been teaching myself French until (long ago) I was in Death Valley and some French tourists wanted my ex-husband to tell them about our Peugeot 505 sti (great car). Suddenly I was translating for him. He’d taken French in high school and could speak a little, but his listening comprehension wasn’t great.

      6. Zettl avatar
        Zettl

        I just want to tell you that I “trashed” your comment instead of liking it. Now I even can’t blame my poor French 🙂

      7. Martha Kennedy avatar
        Martha Kennedy

        Ha ha ha! Oh well! It was probably REALLY important and profound, too! 😉

      8. Zettl avatar
        Zettl

        All stored in my big brain and that’s what really counts…:)

  4. swabby429 avatar
    swabby429

    I see existential struggle.

    Reply
    1. Zettl avatar
      Zettl

      Thank you! But the guy in the middle is stronger than the rocks. Well trained over the years 🙂

      Reply
  5. Deborah Gregory avatar
    Deborah Gregory

    Fantastic! For me, Plato’s “Allegory of The Cave” also comes to mind. Emerging from the darkness of lockdown, blinded by the light (however defined). Out of the Blues into the Blue. Thank you for sharing.

    Reply
    1. Zettl avatar
      Zettl

      Thank you for your lines! I am glad that you like your work! Yes, Plato’s “Allegory of The Cave” sure makes sense. For about a year now I’ve been reading a lot from ancient Greek philosophers and playwrights. Of course, it all comes into play in one way or another. Above all, my preoccupation with C. G. Jung’s archetypes cannot be ignored.

      Reply
  6. mic avatar
    mic

    👌👌👌🖼️ perfect theme

    Reply
    1. Zettl avatar
      Zettl

      Many thanks! I am happy you like it!

      Reply
  7. Estela Foderé avatar
    Estela Foderé

    Un placer para mis ojos observar tus pinturas. Felicitaciones. Saludos desde la patagonia argentina

    Reply
    1. Zettl avatar
      Zettl

      Muchas gracias por tus amables palabras! Me alegra que disfrutes de mi trabajo.

      Saludos desde la fría Viena a la Patagonia!

      Reply

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