The most famous of the many outstanding works by the genius of the Northern Renaissance, Albrecht Durer’s etching Melencolia I (Melancholy I), is replete with esoteric and alchemical references and has been the subject of much debate and interpenetration. The title is taken from the German occultist Cornelius Agrippa’s theory of melancholy, in his influential book On the Occult Philosophy he states that in artists Melencolia Imaginativa predominates over both mind and reason.
A winged figure, Lady Melancholy sits slumped surrounded by symbolic objects. In Medieval and Renaissance medicine, melancholy was a humour caused by an excess of black bile and her posture suggests the contemplative attitude and the mental anguish produced in people who suffer with this temperament. Artists, philosophers, theologians and craftsmen were thought to particularly susceptible to melancholy and were often said to have a Saturnine nature, that is to be under the influence of the planet Saturn. Further allusions to Saturn can be found in the purse and keys which are traditional attributes of the patron god of melancholy.
Directly above Melancholy’s head is an hourglass showing the passing of time, and a magic square that adds up to 34 every which way. Additional references to alchemy can be found in the darkened countenance of the brooding figure, the so-called facies nigra, pointing to the adept that the first stage of the Great Work is nigredo (blackness), the putrefaction necessary for all creation. The geometric tools are symbols of various other stages of the magistery, leading up to the six-sided prism (imprinted with a faint human skull) which represents Prime Matter and the seven steps of the ladder, each rung a phrase in the Magnum Opus. The blazing comet in the sky and the rainbow heralds its final completion.
Contrary to the contemporary belief that melancholy has to be banished at all costs, either by chemical means or positive thinking, the Renaissance view of melancholy was that it was the necessary, preliminary stage of all creativity. Without the putrefaction of melancholy you cannot take the first step on the journey that will led to a transformation of matter and, more importantly, the self. Only art can produce this metamorphosis.
Wow, this has so much to look at! What is it- a drawing? It’s hard to tell. I love the sad little cherub. I never see them looking sad. And that dog (?) is creepy…
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Well when you are down the whole world looks sad. The dog is hungry I think. It is an amazing etching.
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When I’m sad, the whole world irritates the crap out of me, lol. The dog does look hungry but looks elongated or something… I think it’s amazing too. I’m going to look up etchings because I’m not sure how it’s done.
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He was a master of etchings, woodcuts, paintings. He painted the first nude self portrait(I am pretty sure). He brought a new self consciousness into art. This paintings is seen by some as a spiritual self portrait.
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Wow, the first nude selfie! 🙂 It’s funny, I just had a conversation today about how creative types tend to be moody. 😀 I guess melancholia is a good word for it. Happiness writes white, as you say. 🙂
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Great post. On the number 34: Dante devoted 33 songs of his Divine Comedy to Purgatory, 33 to the Sky and 34 to Inferno. Thought this was a fitting reference 🙂
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It is indeed, and I didn’t know that. For some reason 34 is the traditional name of magic squares back in the day, I am not quite sure why. Maybe it has sometime to do with Christ dying at 33, the beginning of a new cycle, a rebirth and resurrection.
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Could also have something to do with the 3:4:5 triangle of Pythagoras…since we’re on the subject of Math 🙂
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It could indeed, that is a lead worth investigating. thank you
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Mr. Cake, this is a wonderful write up on an amazing piece by Durer, the engraving is stunning and all the symbolism is remarkable. I’ve always been intrigued by it, and I’m glad you’ve explained the meaning behind much of the detail. I also like your final paragraph, especially, “…the Renaissance view of melancholy was that it was the necessary, preliminary stage of all creativity.” That made me smile. ~ Miss Cranes
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This was hard to write, alchemical symbolism is dense and willingly obscure. Susan Sontag once said that depression was Melancholy without the charm and I certainly don’t want to make light of suffering, however a certain sadness and the lucidity it brings is a perquisite for art I believe.
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You did a marvelous job, look at all the symbolism, and I do agree with you about the art.
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Thank you Miss Cranes. You know I have to dust off the mystic cake now and then. It like a drink me bottle, it changes your perception of nothing else.
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You’re welcome Mr. Cake. I does, it keeps you on your toes.
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A little bit of icing
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There you go, chocolate I hope.
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Dark extra dark
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Yes!
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I grew up by a chocolate factory
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No, you didn’t. Did you? Okay, where?
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Max and Margot are travelling there.
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Is there really such a place, or is it in your dreamscape of wakeful visions?
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Well it is transformed into a dreamscape but there is actually a place it is modelled on.
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Thank you for letting me know Charlie.
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You are funny
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My other gig, stand-up.
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A thick skin is necessary at your shows I bet.
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I do love that book
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Oh, you know how I struggle with this concept… and I really cringe when people romanticize the pain and suffering of the artist, writer, musician. It’s difficult. And yet I understand it… It’s such a complicated work. An etching? It has so many little details to explore. I wish I knew more about the symbolism. Fascinating stuff. Very Mystic Cake. Love it.
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I believe Durer’s and the Renaissance view was a lot more nuanced that a mere romanticised view of Melancholy, it was the first step only, however it was necessary for the creative process. I certainly found their view more appealing than the reductive bio-chemical model embraced today, which also means that drugs companies can sell more drugs. I love alchemical symbolism though it is obscure, dense and allusive. Mystic Cake is back in a heavy fog.
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I certainly don’t disagree with the idea of the dark side being the more imaginative or creative side. You know I embrace it myself, Cake. Perhaps it is a necessary step in the process. My problem lies in the near glorification of ‘madness.’ That it is somehow an elevated state. But in truth, for the sufferer, is anguish. Now, the flip side of that coin is that in treating the ‘madness’ will it shut off the creative flow? And in turn will it rob the artist of his life’s work? Can the painter no longer paint? The writer know longer write, the composer no longer hear the music? This is what I mean when I say I struggle with it. I’m not sure what effect that would have on the individual – what price is one willing to pay for ease of pain? As for the modern approach, I whole heartedly agree. We are no longer expected to cope, we are expected to cover it up. And big pharma cashes in.
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It’s only part of the process, it doesn’t have to be glorified, only accepted as part of life and emotions. And contrary to opinion, been afflicted doesn’t make somebody an artist, or particular interesting either. Was Sylvia Plath depressed? Yes but being depressed doesn’t make somebody Sylvia Plath. However an artist needs to bring back something from their journey to the centre of the night otherwise they stop being artists. I mentioned in a previous comment that depression is Melancholy without the charm, I suppose the artist jobs to supply the charm.
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Precisely. And the art itself is the coping mechanism.
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Now for a post on the power of positive thinking.
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Ugh! I hate that crap. It makes me want to commit murder.
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OK i better stop, don’t want to feel guilty.
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Have a warm cup of cheer instead. I made gluhwein for booze Tuesday.
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Be over shortly…working on my De Sade post.
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Wonderful post: it is from the depths indeed that creativity rises. Dark are the depths and only the strong pull themselves out, back into the daylight. To create is to be strong in the belief that the work is worthwhile and the journey more important than the ending.
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Thank you Roger, glad you enjoyed. I love Durer’s work.
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The journey is the thing I think.
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When you lose yourself in writing, you enter a different world where all is possible and you are the puppet master, the creator, the grand designer … such power and such fun …
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Just like dreams… the feeling of freedom and possibility.
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Except when they roduce monsters and you can’t control them. The secret is to know how to control the monsters that inhabit those dreams. That is sometimes a hard lesson to learn.
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Indeed that fine line between a dream and a nightmare
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Reblogged this on Kindra M. Austin.
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Thank you very much Kindra.
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You’re welcome. This is one of my favorites of yours, for sure!
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Well it is a brilliant, mysterious work, and although the science of the humours has long been discredited, I believe that the attitude towards Melancholy is far more healthy than current attitudes. I know it is an unfashionable opinion but it is one I believe in.
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An incredible etching. I can see why it has been so thoroughly analyzed for interpretation. There is so much detail to absorb. Now I see how Durer fits within your world. Thanks for reminding me of this. Must purge the black bile…
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Indeed or take the next step upon the ladder
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Ah Mr Cake, this one matches with my beliefs completely… Am i surprised? I don’t think I’ll have to answer that one… Thank you very much for this one. Dürer rocks. Do you also know the movie Melancholia by Lars von Trier?
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Yes one of his best movies…the scene where she says that the food tastes of ashes.. but she is great when the world ends.
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Yes. And for me it is rather a piece of art than just a movie.
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True but movies are sometimes art.
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If this applies for one, then certainly for melancholia. So beautiful. Strikingly.
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Yes I might actually watch it tonight or maybe antichrist
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Ah, that sounds truly good. Wish.. Could as well right now.
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Well it is a great movie. I can’t remember if Durer’s print is featured. I remember the Brueghel.
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So you’ll know soon probably…
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I will probably watch it tonight, and I will let you know.
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I also like Antichrist
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Ah, a very dark and wicked movie. Willem Dafoe surely is great in it. But I couldn’t really enjoy it, really wicked indeed.
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I like wicked…and there is witchcraft as well… well allusions to witchcraft
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Yes that’s true, that fits rather well with your interests…
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Sometimes I can be very dark chocolate Cake.
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Making me hungry.
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Do as Marie Antoinette told the populace then
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I could live off Cake alone probably. Especially chocolate cake, deliciously dark chocolate of course.
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It would be heaven though I am sure most dieticians would be very disapproving.
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Depends on what else is in that Cake apart from cocoa.
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Just sweetness and light…angel food Cake.
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[*ô*]
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Very informative post again Cake….and I also loved reading the discussions in the comment section. Artists and writers try to romanticise this feeling, but the perpetual state of melancholia is certainly not a good place to be in.
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No definitely not but it a necessary stage in the creative process as it turns the lead of experience into the gold of art (I have probably used this line before but it is a good one).
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It is, indeed; will steal it someday 😉
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Be my guest!
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