This Tragic Painting Is Painfully Beautiful
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 15 ธ.ค. 2023
- This piece is called Anguish by August Friedrich Schenck. A mother sheep cries out in despair over the death of her lamb, as a group of crows wait patiently to feast on it.
This painting is gut wrenching. But I think the most interesting and potentially disturbing part about it is the crows. They could pester and peck but they don’t, they simply wait. Because that’s all they really need to do. Worst case scenario for them, the mother sheep eventually moves on, best case scenario, she becomes weak and falls from exhaustion and the birds get to feast on both of them. Looking at it this way, the crows seem to embody the cruelty and selfishness that exists in our world.
When Anguish was first exhibited in the Paris salon of 1878, it really resonated with people. There are a couple of reasons for this. First of all, in the 19th century, death was at the forefront of everyone's minds. Diseases like tuberculosis were rampant and took many people when they were young. And also because Queen Victoria was mourning her late husband, Prince Albert, at the time which made death weirdly fashionable.
But also because a few years before this painting was created, Charles Darwin released his book, The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals. This book introduced the idea that animals share some of the same emotions like joy, sadness and pain that humans do. These were groundbreaking ideas and shifted people’s mindsets from thinking about animals as purely existing for our consumption and pleasure to thinking of them as more like us. Dr. Ted Gott, the National Gallery of Victoria Senior Curator in International Art suggested that this painting may have been inspired by Darwin’s groundbreaking ideas.
Although this piece sits among paintings from much more popular artists such as Rembrandt and Monet, it’s consistently ranked as a crowd favorite. This piece is currently hanging in the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne. The gallery has around 75,000 works in its permanent collection, but Anguish has been voted twice as one of the museum's most popular works. I think the success of this painting speaks to the fact that no matter the time, the feeling of pain and loss resonates with almost everyone. Thank you for watching!
Credits:
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I lean more towards the lighter interpretation of this piece. The crows seem curious or even respectful rather than needlessly cruel. If they are waiting for a meal, it is only because that is their nature, not because they take joy in the mother's suffering.
Realism doesn't matter if the artist's intent was to depict them as such. But this doesn't look like the artist drew them to look malicious so i guess you're right.
I know what it is! The only animal here with its mouth open is the sheep. The crows are all silent. I live in a city with a Lot of crows. They're noisy af. A murder of dead quiet crows would be a creepy sight, but I agree that it comes off as respectful here, like a funeral.
Crows are very intelligent, so I think they're being respectful
I feel like if the crows were showing respect their attention would be on the mother and their heads would be held higher. They instead are focused on the dead lamb and their heads are low and stretched toward the lamb . They are likely slowly getting closer and closer. Not necessarily with evil intent but with natural intentions and paying decreasing regard for the mother.
Nonsense - crows are hideously cruel birds though very intelligent - if a mother ewe has 2 lambs they will distract the ewe allowing the other crows to peck out the eyes and kill the other lamb. A farmer has told me this as he has witnessed this scenario on his farm. Nature is red in both tooth and claw!
Honestly, I love crows.
I have seen a pair, tending to a baby squirrel that fell from its nest. One crow kept trying to bring the squirrel water, one was grooming its fur. And when the baby died, both crows flew in frantic circles, cawing in a way that sounded like they’d spotted danger. After that… they didn’t touch the squirrel. Instead, wasps got to the pitiful body.
The squirrel parents never showed up. It was just the crows trying to nurse the squirrel
Really?! Wow, that is so amazing yet heartbreaking to see! Proof that animals have feelings too.
That's amazing! There is a TH-cam video showing a crow who cared for a stray kitten, feeding it. A couple adopted the kitten and the wild crow visited every day. Either the crow or the kitten was named Moses.
Wow...@@heckyeahponyscans
@@heckyeahponyscans the crow actually chased the humans away from his kitten. He was determined to raise this week-old kitten by himself
A followup video shows the cat walking up to the crow, and clearly asking him to preen her fur. So he does! He stepped right into the dad role
I’m with you, I absolutely love crows. They are in fact, my very favorite bird. They are so SUPER intelligent, and have long memories. They will learn to trust, if you show yourself trustworthy.
They’ll bring gifts for you, if you consistently leave gifts for them.
I don’t know what it is about them, perhaps maybe just the fact that they are black (like black cats), that silly folks are so superstitious about.
✨
"The only cruel thing here is the winter" Solid.
They call the crows the "cruelty and selfishness of the world", the symbolism is interesting and good, yes. In nature? It's just the circle of life and winter is the obstacle every character in the painting faces, no good no bad, just the harsh reality. But what meant for people back then, that is what is important in this piece, in many actually. But some forget that what people saw back then is very important when analyzing an old piece of art. And despite how harsh it is, this piece is beautiful for what it evokes as time passes. And a lot of us need pieces like this to humble us in many ways.
Winter is always cruel
@@ecurewitz "Winter is a merciless killer! We must procure enough firewood to keep us warm through the long, dark nights"
Without death there can’t be new life and without winter there can‘t be any blossoming spring. It’s two sides of the same medal.
"Animals don't behave like men, If they have to fight, they fight; and if they have to kill they kill. But they don't sit down and set their wits to work to devise ways of spoiling other creatures' lives and hurting them. They have dignity and animality.”
- Richard Adams, Watership Down
(Except cats)
@@MarcosElMalo2 and orcas.
@@mommachupacabraYes, how interesting those oddly specific sailboat attacks and ripping off rudders.
@@stephenpmurphy591 I was thinking more about how orcas like to play seal Frisbee. But the boat attacks, that's just putting out the "no trespassing" sign.
Oh wow... the crows mourning alongside the mama. I never would have even considered that.
That was my first, though, but I like crows
Interpretation of the painting aside, I have to say that I'm blown away by the detail. The sheep's fur, the messed up snow, the crow's EVERYTHING. It's truly an amazing example of a master's devotion to detail.
I love the lack of distant landmarks in the background. With the suggestion of wind in the ewe's wool it drives hone the desolate, lonely feeling. There is no farm, no fences, no pastures, no mountains. There is only the cold there and then. That which is in front of the subjects of the painting, nothing else matters to be focused on
It reeks if futility, emotional upheaval and heartbreak overall. The crows motives are irrelevant at this point, it is the mother sheep’s anguish and lack of any recourse of her dead baby.
As someone who's raised goats in the past, my first thought was "either unseasonably late storm caught the dam right after lambing (February/March) or she got pregnant too early in the year, and lambed too early for the season." I also pondered as another commenter did, the symbolism of the crows being those who stand to benefit from the decedent's estate.
"the only cruel thing about this is.. the winter"
Damn.
As someone who adores my own flock of sheep (we live in the country), this painting was so heartbreaking to see! I have never seen this before! It is actually quite beautiful. I love this channel, have learned so so so much! Thanks Art Deco!
I grew up with sheep, and this captures the tragedy out-of-season lambing can be.
He has other paintings that feature sheep/livestock you may want to check out. The way he paints fur/wool/hooves is amazing! So detailed!
Definitely. One year we had one of our ewes lamb out in the pasture in the late evening. We weren't expecting her to lamb yet so that was a shock. She had twins and the littlest one was shaking really hard from the cold. We dried her (and her sister) quickly and brought them and their mama to the barn. It was so cold that night and we didn't think the little one was going to make it. But morning came and she was up nursing fine! Blessing is now a healthy ewe due to lamb in the spring! @@kristajones7202
If something like this was painted today the crows could represent the extended family waiting to get their piece of inheritance. That's what I thought of. The mother lamb being the close friends and family that are actually mourning. The crows being the vultures waiting for their piece of the pie. The lamb being the actual person who died.
Ha! An amazing interpretation I had not thought of.
You could also argue the crows could represent things like taxes and other fees the government collect on upon death…
I do feel like this might go against the theme of the "mother lamb." Unless the child has their own fortune
@@samnelson7428 maybe so but that was just one of the ways I saw it. I've heard stories about kids having college funds that get fought over.
If they're meant to represent that, why not use actual vultures instead of crows. And it's rare that a child would leave anyone an inheritance. Your interpretation doesn't make sense, dude. But it's good to think deeper, keep going
Thank you for bringing this painting to our attention. I rarely get the chance to travel to any art museums so it’s always a treat to view your uploads.
This was a beautiful to-the-point analysis and quick history on this piece. I’ll be honest and say the very first thing that crossed my mind was that it felt almost religious in nature. Like the baby lamb was an unfortunate but necessary sacrifice for the circle of life, especially in these harsh winter conditions. And the very first point that caught my eye was dead center in the painting that shows just how cold the air is with that mother lamb’s breath. Just dead center.
It definitely could give religious vibes.
Yes indeed! Well said! Mind blowing...
New top favourite painting!! I personally Love the emotion and layers of interpretation!
Crows are highly intelligent creatures. They remember faces and form bonds outside their species. If you gain the loyalty of a crow, you've got a friend for life.
One of my favorite recent stories about crows was a woman who befriended a murder. First they started to bring her gifts, little shiny trinkets they found. They also started to "protect" her, which made trouble for her elderly neighbors, so she helped them befriend the crows. In turn, the crows helped save a neighbor who fell by getting the attention of other neighbors, who were able to help them in time. Such lovely birds.
It's a mother mourning the death of her child, and protesting the scavengers that already want to remove the still-warm body literally from her care in the height of her mourning, knowing she can't keep them at bay forever.
This is exactly as emotional as depicted. I feel like the only reason some folks might find it extreme is because they don't generally empathize with an animal as they would with a person.
Which is sad because it's very easy to tune into the emotions of animals. One has to lack empathy and spirituality to not perceive their emotions. It's a blindness the culture taught us. It's not Darwin, known for survival of the fittest, whom I would have expected to acknowledge the soul the Bible clearly says animals were given.
I love this painting but it hurts me to look at it. You can feel the pain of a mother losing her child, the loneliness, the cold, the threat of crows wanting to eat her lamb. Yet there is beauty too, for all the emotions it envokes and the stunning way it was painted. An absolute masterpiece in multiple ways.
Having worked with sheep it's often heartbreaking how they'll call out for you to help their lamb when the little tyke is done for and her watchful eyes pleading for you save her unwell baby.
The crying and agonized bleats never erase from memory.
But then if you can help the lamb the whole herd changes their demeanor toward you and you become their personal hero with the mother constantly coming up to you and nuzzling.
I watch ALL your videos...this is the first one that made this 57 year old man cry." Anguish" is such an appropriate title...it hurts, yet it's beautiful
Meh
@@antoniocasias5545 🤣🤣🤣
@@ramonzapato5528 🤭😁
As a big fan of anthropomorphism and science, this painting really struck me as you showed it to me.
Thank you for showing this painting to us. "Human emotions" on animals seems to be a type of painting that, I think, is not as commonly looked at nowadays. It really gave me some things to think about today. A great way to start my Saturday 😊
I had the honor to see this painting in the National Art Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne back in 2019, I instantly fell in love with it but the same time felt sad and chills all over my body. Truly a masterpiece, the best thing I saw in the whole art gallery!
Wow, I can barely look at this painting, it's so painful.
Thanks for the cheery-uppy bits at the end! ☺
Thank you for your support Dave! I’m glad you liked the cute paintings!
If I was to be struck blind and deaf but offered to hear one sound forever, I would choose to hear you describing the world around us..
And.... another Stellar video 👍🏻⚡️⚡️✨️✨️👍🏻
You always do a top-notch exploration of the social zeitgeist during the painting's creation. It adds so much to see the painting in the context of its era. This one was especially fascinating to imagine all those forces going on in its day.
I'm not surprised it was voted as most popular more than once.
It's much bigger than you'd expect and really dominant among the pieces that it shares a room with. It took my breath away the first time I saw it in person.
This makes me think of today’s society where people are suffering injustices and there is always a crowd of people (crows) who stand around and watch or record for social media.
Its probably kept its popularity in Australia as we "grew up on the sheeps back"
I interpret it as if the crows do not understand, they are curious and slightly afraid. Like the people who do not mourn a dead person they are taken aback by a strong expression of grief
My first impression was your last interpretation. While death is sad and painful, it's also not wasted. The tiny lamb will feed a lot of crows, in a frozen world with no plants, where only death can sustain life
I love this paining. Many paintings depict different emotions with different symbols. This one is straight to the point, but with hidden layers underneath it. Thank you for showing us this!
"We're all human, unless you're a sheep, then you're a sheep"
True words of wisdom
I’ve always believed a work of art should make you feel. It’s should be a catalyst that evokes your emotions. This painting truly is one that demands an emotional response.
I always thought of it as the crows participating in a funeral. Crows seem to have more empathy than people thought. In previous centuries, crows had much darker representations and signs of death.
This painting has always made me think that crows are mourning. I honestly never thought of them as waiting to eat. Being in winter, it does make it so much darker.
this piece is so heartbreaking. i remembered this piece when i lost my dog, though it is not even comparable to the sheep's all too real anguish. i was heartbroken, and i only remembered the painting for the few months. but it was beautiful, and i still loved these paintings ( along with the lunatic of étretat, ) because they were so profound. i think to me, at that time - it was them being outwardly emotional, whether in grief or madness, where i couldn't be - that was the most intimate part. i love these paintings :) keep doing what you do!!!
I can see why this piece is so popular. Often times it's negative emotions that make for more compelling art, and this painting is just pain. It's wonderfully executed and has layers and dimensions behind it, but still straight forward.
I have to say, as someone that grew up on a sheep farm I’m impressed. I helped my family care for and raise a flock of approximately 400 sheep during my childhood. As someone that has spent much time with sheep, I can honestly saw the artist captures this Ewe so well that I feel like I can hear her “Baa”.
Mary mourning the loss of her son Jesus. It's a beautiful and haunting painting.
Wow! My perception of the crows changed drastically when you changed the way you described them. I think this speaks to the painter's skill and to your analytical and writing skills. Thank you for presenting this lovely painting the way you did in this video.
I know when I've been at my saddest I would flip through my father's art coffee table books and just seeing that others have also been able to create beauty from , well, dead things , or ashes, it's something positive to focus on than self pity.
The dead lamb appears to be smiling; life might be Anguish, but for the sweet release of death.
Sad yet freeing
I love how I learn about works and artists that I've never heard of through your channel! Easily one of my favorites here.
Could you please do a video on Solomon J Solomon’s Samson? I have no idea what that painting is about, and I think you are the PERFECT person to break it down.
Ive seen cows guard their dead and near dear calves from vultures. It looks exactly like this. In the winter, if theyre unable to get on foot and nurse quickly, they can easily die. We once had a mother cow die, calf was old enough to wean but hadnt yet. I had to wait a few hours till i had help to move her and the vultures started picking at her while calf watched. Its very upsetting but thats farming sometimes. Scavengers are super important and just doing their thing.
Thank You for reviewing this painting.
It is a painting that has pulled so many feelings from my mind not just the initial thought of the Murder of Crows waiting to scavenge on the carcass of the lamb and the absolute distraught and anguish of the sheep.
Is she more upset that her lamb has died or that the Murder of Crows are so heartless and only care about filling their bellies?
Crows are a very extremely smart creature. They have emotions, they have memories that are passed on to their offspring and they pass on to theirs. They remember people's faces and attribute actions of individuals to that person forever. They even have special calls for certain people if they are safe or if they are dangerous.
Whether the Crows are depicted as a funeral of morners or as the feeders of carrion, their presence is dark and cold like the winter day of the painting.
As you pointed out, one has to wonder the future of the sheep. Will she eventually move on and abandon her lambs body to rejoin the flock? Or will she remain by the side of the lamb protecting it from all predators until she becomes so weak from lack of sleep and fending off foes, and from starvation that she eventually succumbing to all the trauma and collapses only to become the larger part of a free banquet?
Such an amazing painting.
still waiting 4 the fall of icarus, garden of earthly delights, the nightmare, aurora Triumphans, ivan the terrible and his son and death of marat ii
I'm so glad you make these videos! I get to learn about paintings and their stories that I wouldn't have known about anywhere else
Absolutely love your content. I took one look at this painting, which I never had seen before, and noped out. I respect the effort you went to diving into this but...its already heartbreaking. I actually feel it in my chest. I could listen to a breakdown of this if the figures were human, but animals? I've got that gene that makes that impossible. I'm sure I'm not the only one here, and I'm sure a lot more have no idea what I'm talking about. And that's OK.
I'm the same way, and it's because animals are so innocent.
Stepping out of my normal lurker status: it took me a month to be ready to watch this video. I've seen this painting before but have admittedly avoided it because of the Strong wave of emotion it evokes: horror, overwhelming sadness, and a cruel yet natural sense of beauty. Greatly enjoyed your analysis, as well as the ones from the commenters.
Thanks for listening.
The true center of this painting is clear to any farmer: lambs birthed in winter are goners. That’s a newborn, as exemplified by the flatness of the body. But it is obviously dry, which means that the ewe had licked it clean, and eaten the placenta. That’s what the footprints are from: the ewe’s devotion to a lamb that cannot possibly survive. Lambs are born with naturally weak lungs that explode in the cold. Notice, too, that she is completely alone, away from her flock, completely at the mercy of the elements.
I, as a farmer, see this scene much differently than you do. This is about a mother’s devotion, even in the presence of impossibly dark circumstances. The crows alone know her anguish, isolation, futility and abandonment, as well as her affection. If the crows do not eat her, the wolves will when the light is gone.
It appears as though the lamb lived long enough to struggle, but could not gain its footing.
The crows might have witnessed the entire life of the lamb, birth to death
This is such an exceptional channel. You’ve brought out an interest in art that I didn’t know I have! Keep them coming.
I think the crows are totally affected by the suffering of the mother, as they are affected by death of Their Own. And then in the end nature will be nature and it is indeed survival I can feel the heartache and it is truly one of the saddest things I've ever seen
Thank you for that ending, it was greatly needed :D
I have created a few works of the corvidae family situated in snow, so naturally I loved this painting you covered. What an incredibly moving piece! Thank you for introducing me to new work I haven't seen before!
Thank you again for your great perspectives. Keep it up.
Damn. This piece is absolutely gorgeous and heart-wrenching at the same time. With that being said, I love all the different interpretations and questions it poses. Great video.
I love your uploads and I'm so happy to have found this one. I had not seen your work in a while and I'm so very grateful you are still uploading. Great narration as always and excellent analysis and interpretation of the painting's theme.
Oh my god this painting is so sad! It’s aweful! I loved your take on it.
To me it definitely conjures up memories of profound grief. Ugh
Thanks!
Thank you so much for supporting the channel.
Thank you for the cute paintings at the end I was legit in tears but the PUG
i LIVE for these videos! (: i appreciate them and your humor and knowledge so much. Truly the highlight of my month
Thank you! ❤
This is my favourite renaissance painting of all, I’m glad you covered it!
Um, it’s not from renaissance period.
@@MarcosElMalo2oops my mistake, I thought it was lol
Turns out it’s from the 19th century
Still a beautiful piece that is highly reminiscent of renaissance layout and detail 😊
Thanks! Your empathy for this painting encouraged me to buy a reproduction that is mounted right here on the wall next to my computer.
Thank you so much for your generosity, John! I glad you enjoyed the video. It's a very powerful piece!
Ewe did well describing the painting and some possible interpretations. I always enjoy the thought and humour in your presentations.
Wowww this painting is stunning!! Its seems simple at first glance but really holds so much depth in it's meaning and emotion ❤
love this. the video and that you covered this piece!
One of my favourite artists that no one has heard of!! Finally!!
I'd like to add this second comment and another thought for people who have never viewed this painting before and for those who have in recent times.
Imagine being alive back in the times when people didn't read, very rarely viewed any art except what was in their local church or possibly in the town square as an artist painted various items to sell in the market.
And then you come upon a painting like this one. There were no televisions or photos or movies or picture books. So unless you were a shepherd you've most likely never even imagined anything like this painting. Of course you'd be familiar with sheep and lambs as well as crows and the harshness of winter but if you were raised with nobility or some family with money, that painting would or could be seen as the scariest thing you've ever seen. Like a modern horror movie that gave you nightmares.
It's just such an honest piece yet can portray many perspectives at the same time.
Such an emotional painting! Thank you for ntroducing me to so many wonderful artists!
I love your multiple interpretations
It is a heavy painting full of hidden meaning, and what makes your turn on its interpretation so outstanding is, that you do not judge or paint one part the evil part and one the good, but that they both have theire reasons, that lie beond people who are not involved in its story. I am so thankful for that, and I think the colors for the little badges are fitting beond words. Thank you. I heard a statement today, that is stiking in my head, "In the End whe have only each other", and that is what we truly should see and work for.
Oh my goodness. This painting is so... I don't have the words. Relateable... but that makes it so easy to see metaphors in the images. Is Diana the lamb, and the Crows the paparazi? Is this filled with Religious metaphors? Does this portray the Vultures of society waiting to feast on the innocent?
I think I would be less disturbed, if this were any other animal, than a lamb. As a Christian that carries soooo much symbolism, that it is difflicult to look at this piece without, extreme emotion. Which could have been Schenck's point.
I love your interpretations and history lessons!
I remember seeing this on a post online for the first time and it was a gut punch. You see such raw emotion and conveyance of harsh cislrcumstance and yet its so simple. The Pompeii piece discussed months earlier is harsh and striking but this one makes me cry.
Excellent interpretation and explanation. Thank you.
This is why I love the channel: educational and entertaining
Wow!! That was great!!
Wow what a cool painting! That's what I like about this channel because I learn about things I would have never heard of.
What a beautiful painting. My favorite painting is held at a local museum. It, too, is about death. It is by Charles Sprague Pearce and is called A Village Funeral at Brittany.
I am lucky enough to live in Melbourne (Australia) and always stop to look at this painting whenever I visit the NGV. It's a gorgeous painting.
I really liked this video. The painting looks really interesting and I like how it can be interpreted in different ways.
“Over the top emotional.” I think it’s just right amount of emotion.
The original "Loss"
No need for feelings. It is always about feelings. I only see the quality of the work. It is not even heavy it is just a painting. As an artist I don’t see the need to play on feelings. Feelings are for therapist. Thank you for your channel!
I binge watched all your videos and i want more
I've seen this painting, I liked it but didn't know it was famous. Thanks for sharing!
My first time seeing this master piece, fascinating indeed. I love the Work!
Great and thought provoking as always! Much love and Merry Christmas to everybody!❤
These videos are absolutely amazing! I love them so much that by this point, you could say I watch them religiously 😅. I hope you continue to create these beautiful essays and I also wish that you continue to be just as passionate about these artworks as you have been in the past. Can’t wait for your first video of 2024🎉😊.
Fabulous. Thanks.
Love your videos.❤️
So incredibly beautiful. I have nothing more to say, just that. Beautiful.
Happy Holidays to you too!
Good job! Thank you.
I’ve always viewed this as the crows waiting for a meal but now I prefer the funeral concept.
I was already impressed by the idea this was a funeral scene with the mourners lining three sides and a single crow presiding over the rites. And of course what follows a funeral? A funeral dinner.
I love your analysis'. I also enjoy the varied subjects. Thanks.
I have a new favorite artist. This is absolutely gorgeous.
Your awesome! I love your page ❤
Well done and great ending!