Narcissus III 1975

Gene Davis created this painting, Narcissus III, featuring vertical stripes of color on a large canvas. While seemingly abstract, the title points us to a deeper understanding. Narcissus, in Greek mythology, was consumed by his own reflection, a symbol of vanity and self-obsession. The stripes, then, become like fragmented reflections, a visual echo of the self. Color itself has long carried symbolic weight. Here, Davis uses a muted palette, evoking a sense of introspection. Think of the Renaissance, where specific colors signified status, emotion, or spiritual truth. Even earlier, in ancient Egypt, colors were tied to specific gods and concepts of the afterlife. Perhaps Davis is suggesting that our modern-day obsessions are more subtle, diffused across the spectrum of experience. The painting's emotional power lies in its ability to tap into our own subconscious awareness of the self. Like Narcissus gazing into the pool, we too are drawn to reflect, to interpret, to find ourselves in the image. This is how symbols resurface, taking on new meanings in different contexts, yet always rooted in the depths of human experience.