Description
The painting titled “Ars Longa, Vita Brevis,” which translates to “Art is long, life is short,” presents a striking juxtaposition of the natural and the constructed. The central focus is a raven perched atop the bare branches of a tree, rendered in sharp detail against a more abstract and geometric background. The raven’s dark form stands out starkly against the vibrant yellow field that occupies the upper portion of the canvas, suggesting the vividness of life or perhaps the illumination of knowledge against the vastness of time.
Below the bird, the canvas is divided into angular shapes and planes, painted in a palette of greens, browns, grays, and a touch of orange. These shapes could represent the fragmented reality of the physical world or the various aspects of human existence. The stark verticality of what appears to be a concrete column on the left contrasts with the organic lines of the tree, emphasizing the tension between the living and the man-made.
Reflections in the bottom part of the painting add an element of fluidity, with the colors and shapes mirrored as if on the surface of water. This could symbolize the reflective nature of art, mirroring life with all its complexities and interpreting it through the artist’s lens.
The theme suggested by the title, “Ars Longa, Vita Brevis,” is embodied in the contemplative stance of the raven. In literature and mythology, ravens are often symbols of wisdom or omens of change. This bird, solitary and watchful, may represent the enduring nature of art that outlasts the fleeting span of individual lives. It is as if the raven contemplates the brevity of existence against the canvas of time, while the art itself stands as a lasting testament to human creativity and expression. The composition as a whole invites the viewer to reflect on the legacy of art as a perpetual entity in the transient flow of life.
The Greek original:
- Ὁ βίος βραχύς,
- ἡ δὲ τέχνη μακρή,
- ὁ δὲ καιρὸς ὀξύς,
- ἡ δὲ πεῖρα σφαλερή,
- ἡ δὲ κρίσις χαλεπή.
The Latin version:
- Vīta brevis,
- ars longa,
- occāsiō praeceps,
- experīmentum perīculōsum,
- iūdicium difficile.
The English translation:
- Life is short,
- and art long,
- opportunity fleeting,
- experimentation perilous,
- and judgment difficult.
Title : Ars Longa, Vita Brevis
Type : Oil on canvas painting
Size : 100 * 100 cm
Year : 2018
