Beauty Meets the Beast 

Editor: Here we have "Beauty Meets the Beast," a painting by Scott Gustafson. The scene is set at a banquet table laden with food and lit by candlelight. It gives the impression of a formal dinner party, with a noticeable fairytale twist. What draws your attention most when you look at this piece? Curator: The artist skillfully uses archetypes to evoke very old, cross-cultural ideas. What seems to be happening with Belle's gesture toward her throat, and the Beast's looming posture? Editor: It seems Belle is alarmed, possibly afraid of the Beast. Curator: Precisely. And what symbol comes to mind when you see the Beast, particularly his posture towering over her and her father? Editor: Perhaps, domination or raw, untamed power? Curator: Consider this, too: think of the colour red in fairy tales and mythology – what feelings are commonly associated with it? What do you see, combined with the Beast and Belle’s tense interaction? Editor: Red is often associated with danger or passion… It seems to emphasise a confrontation. Maybe Beauty is meeting both power, and something that might also destroy her? Curator: Well observed. This is a rich image when we view it through the lens of visual language – we see the artist creating layers of symbolic depth to represent power dynamics that resonate on multiple levels. Does considering the symbolism change your initial perception of the painting? Editor: It definitely does. Seeing the underlying archetypes makes it more than just a scene from a fairytale. Curator: Exactly! Understanding those enduring symbols lets us interpret familiar tales in more profound ways.