Prometheus c. 1928

Franz von Stuck created this painting of Prometheus at some point in his career using oils. The darkness of this painting is like a stage set, where muted flesh tones are the only source of light, it feels so gothic and elemental. The way von Stuck uses these dark, oily colors to build up the form reminds me of that feeling when you’re pushing paint around, trying to find the image, and suddenly the texture itself starts to speak. See how the darkness isn't just a backdrop? It's like a character in itself, a heavy presence that almost suffocates Prometheus, and the way he's lit suggests Caravaggio, or perhaps more accurately, a melodramatic stage production. I see echoes of painters like Böcklin, who were obsessed with creating these dramatic, symbolic landscapes, they share a similar interest in myth and the darker side of the human psyche. Art is a conversation, after all, isn't it?