Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs 

Scott Gustafson painted this scene from “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”, a tale echoing ancient archetypes of innocence and peril. Note the archetypal number seven, here representing completeness, as in the seven days of the week. The dwarfs' cottage, a space teeming with domestic activity, has links to the symbolism of the home as a sanctuary, seen throughout art history. Yet, the warm hearth also hints at the potential dangers lurking in the shadows, as the forest beyond evokes the unconscious, a place of hidden desires and fears. Consider the flowers Snow White carries; a token of purity and renewal, an artistic motif found in Botticelli’s "Primavera" where Flora spreads blossoms, suggesting fertility and the cyclical nature of life. Similarly, the theme of death and rebirth underlies this scene, as Snow White is not only saved by love, but is reborn as a new self. Gustafson masterfully uses familiar symbols to tap into our collective psyche, conjuring up an emotional connection that transcends time. The narrative unfolds, rooted in shared, timeless stories.