Jean-Léon Gérôme: Truth Coming out of the Well,
Armed with a Whip to Punish Mankind
Monday morning usually greets the world like the woman in this painting by Jean-Léon Gérôme. The figure of truth emerges from a well holding a scourge with which to shame and punish humankind. The image makes literal reference to a saying by the ancient Greek philosopher Democritus (ca. 460 BC – ca. 370 BC): “Truth lies at the bottom of a well." Some have interpreted the painting as a reference to the Dreyfus affair, while others discuss the it in the context of a quote by Gérôme that "thanks to photography, Truth has finally left her well.” – [WTF Art History]
No comments:
Post a Comment