A Life Examined
"The unexamined life is not worth living," was purported to have been uttered by Socrates in ancient Athens at his trial for impiety and corrupting youth, for which he was subsequently sentenced to death. In reality, the city leaders were using him as a scapegoat for their disastrous and failed war with the Spartans.
Socrates certainly wasn't popular with everyone because had a habit of challenging people on their thoughts and assumptions and attempting to get them to think outside of their boxes. Worse still he was poising the minds of Athens' youth with the same predisposition to question and the gods forbid, challenge authority. To boot, by classical Greek standards of beauty, he was ugly.
But ever the man to challenge the status quo, when the verdict of guilty was passed, and the punishment was being decided upon, he joked that Athens provide him with free meals. This of course was not received well.
Socrates was a man of moral conviction which lead said man to be convicted for his morals. Rather than give up his life of inquiry, philosophy and flee Athens as his friends urged him to do, he chose death by poisoning with hemlock, a slow death that paralyses the muscles until one can no longer breath and the heart stops beating.
The painting is not about Socrates, rather when I was thinking about titles, his quote came to mind. But the painting is philosophical in that the figure is contemplating his or the other's mortality.
"A Life Examined", 24 x 30cm, oil on canvas
Leave a comment below, upvote and resteem if you like it.
More of my artwork can be found on my website. LeoPlaw.com
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Really good painting!!! :-D
Thank you Caroline!
Thank you Caroline!
:-D
"'The unexamined life is not worth living,'" which is why psychedelics should be mandatory lol.
I like the painting and that title does work well with it both in the sense that the man seems contemplative and the fact that he is literally examining the remains of a life.
The Ancient Greeks were into psychedelics. There is reference to a dark liquid in the Elysian Mysteries, Kykeon, which sounds suspiciously like a psychedelic substance. Although taking Kykeon out of the auspices of the temple could get you killed.
Thank you @artisticscreech!
@leoplaw I think something got lost in translation (not unlike Bible translations, and you know where these led to) and the substance they were supposedly mentioning was a laxative!
Rodin understood that very well when he sculpted the Thinker.
It is mind altering learning about biblical translations. Like the same word for "Dragon" used to be used for "Crocodile", and crocodiles used to range to the mediterranean and sothern europe. So ancient dragons were really just crocodiles.
Interesting.
Wise and beautiful writing Leo. Socrates has become a symbol for questioning things and defending integrity.Those who are able to do so deserve every respect. Nice tribute to him and this symbol.
This painting is so powerful and beautiful, and goes perfectly with the story and the title. Resteemed.
Thank you Mira! Thank you also for the resteem.
In today's political climate it seems if anyone examines or presents counter views, they are 'sacrificed' on the pyre of social media, strange times yet people never truly change, do they.
Another amazing figural piece and I was waiting to see what larger piece your skull was a part of. It was worth the wait.
Thank you Donna! Yes, for the most part, humans are humans, whatever period they live. Challenging a personal or community view can be a dangerous thing, because you might be challenging the safety of the identity. The current political climate exists because their are conflicting currents vying to either preserve or destroy or remake that identity. Hence you will hear the term, identity politics. But that is only but one part of the front of the present idiological war being waged on and over culture.
We are living in interesting times!
Indeed!
Nice art @leoplaw, quite sad to see how one was killed without proper justice.
Thank you @oghie!
History tends to repeat itself, because people are people.
Socrates has been mentioned a lot lately... in various conversations, with various people...., and now here, as well!
Beautiful work, Leo!
Also, I am following you now...
Thank you Sabina!
Socrates would be happy that you are discussing and examining things. Although, he'd probably throw so more questions in as was his want.
Thought I was already following you, just checked, no, but now back at you.
Awesome piece - you've captured the contemplative mood perfectly :)
Thank you @foxfiction!
Very atmospheric and expressive composition. The reflective expression says it all. And great text .
Thank you @nehab!
Very nice. Who does the skull belong to I wonder?
The figure in the painting is probably asking the same question.
Hamlets daddy, he gets tossed around a lot too!
Reading what you wrote, and going back to your painting..and than title..
And than thoughts in my head about ''us'' people, our minds and lives. Like that scull in his hand is his own, or better said, ours..and like he is measuring and thinking of meaning of existence..
Many thoughts and associations can be triggered with this one @leoplaw.
Or, I just mirrored mine present feelings in it..who knows :)
Who knows? You, but you will have to examine your life... and then it will be worth living, so Socrates said. =)
Agree with the guy :)
=)