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'ESCAPE'
©2006 James Ryan



INTERPRETATION
The picture portrays the symbolic mindset of a man feeling trapped by material possessions and domesticity.
It's quite a simple image...but actually, there's a fair bit going on.
The man stares at the untouchable yellow rose which symbolises the beauty of the outside world.
The butterfly represents his soul...his dreams and ambitions which have been relinquished.
The cat symbolises domesticity...which poses a threat to the butterfly.
The crack in the bricks under the window hints at the possibility of an easy escape...which the man cannot see.

SYMBOLISM
Interestingly enough, the elements in the picture came together pretty much by chance.
When I was putting it together I was thinking mainly about the visual aspects - not the symbology.
I knew, f'rinstance, that there was going to be a flower outside the window...but I didn't know it was going to be a YELLOW ROSE.
The butterfly and cat were chance additions which were completely unplanned.
One may assume the butterfly is fleeing from the cat which adds another layer to the title 'ESCAPE'.

To make sure the picture was idealogically sound...I decided to do a little research.
The results were pretty interesting and helped me derive the 'INTERPRETATION' above.
Here's what I gleaned from the search information...
[Google Search - Sorry! Original authors not credited as I butchered the info from several different sources. :]

: YELLOW ROSE :
Yellow roses signify strong feelings of pure joy, gladness, happiness and friendship, but were once used to convey jealousy.
Friendship is the main meaning of the yellow rose but it also signifies familiar love and domestic happiness.
Yellow roses also symbolize fun and freedom.
Yellow roses are appropriate for marking the beginning of a new life or for starting all over again.
A Yellow rose can also mean 'dying love'.

: BUTTERFLY :
Psyche is the Greek word for both soul and butterfly.
The belief was that butterflies were human souls searching for a new reincarnation,
which gave the creature uncanny and sometimes ominous connotations.
Butterfly symbolism is also closely tied to the idea of spirits and souls and has been used in many religions and cultures.
Butterflies are a symbol of change, joy, and color.
Their flight appears as dancing, and a reminder not to take things so seriously.
The butterfly is a powerful symbol for transformation and metamorphosis.
It is an excellent image for anyone contemplating, or in the midst of a major change.
The butterfly is a reminder to make changes when the opportunity arises.
Change and transformation are inevitable for us all, but it does not have to be traumatic.

: CATS :
Cats are mysterious creatures...as is their mythology.
They can portend both good and bad omens dependent on their depiction.
Cats have always had strong links with the underworld - even the Egyptians revered them.
What is less known is that the cat was traditionally a medieval symbol of lust.
In paintings, the cat frequently appears as a symbol of sinful women and lost innocence.
The cat alludes to carnality, sensuality and temptation.
Until the late 19th Century, to portray a man or woman with a cat was a slur on their virtue or masculinity.
In later times, as cats became the guardians of homes, they came to symbolize domesticity.
Leonardo Da Vinci said "The small feline is a masterpiece."


SUMMARY
'ESCAPE' - Am I reading too much into it? Probably. Doesn't matter - as long as it gets you thinking?
Anyway, in closing I would like to add some pertinent quotes...


"A wise man is never less alone than when he is." - Jonathan Swift.

"The greatest danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short,
but in setting our aim too low and achieving our mark." - Michelangelo.










'SELF PORTRAIT'
© James W Ryan
May 2006





EYES WIRED SHUT/OPEN
(-: Mouseover the image :-)
© James W Ryan
July 2006


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