Traditions of the Image of Love in Art

A celebration of the symbiotic relationship between love and art, and an examination of the true “colors” of love…

by: Maxim Pratsyuk

It is believed that art helps people express their love. That is why the theme of love in the art world is commonplace. Many great novels, poems, films, and paintings are devoted to the relationship between a man and a woman. However, it is painting that occasionally encounters a certain problem, as love is an entity that can’t be shown in statics. Therefore, painting as a way of conveying a certain specific static moment is forced to show this complex feeling in an indirect way. But perhaps it is this complexity that makes the paintings of love particularly moving and exciting.

Colors of love

The perception of any work of art begins with its color scheme. Colors tune a person into a certain emotional wave at a subconscious level. Some people think that color perception is traditional; that, for example, black is interpreted as sinister, and the image of love and passion is simply taken to “clothe” in red tones. But this is not always the case. Colors are also perceived by people unconsciously. Perhaps this is due to how the aura changes at the moment when a person experiences certain feelings, for example, when flirting or falling in love. 

Interesting studies of the human aura have made it possible to determine the true “colors of love.” It turns out that the sincere love that people experience shimmers in their aura with interspersed overflows of silver or golden radiance. If a person is experiencing pure, selfless love, then the aura shimmers with delicate shades from emerald to lilac-pink. It is said that someone who sees only good in life and in people, perceives life in pink light and looks at the world through pink glasses.

The green color of the aura speaks of love for the world, of inner harmony. The aura of a mother thinking about her baby shines with green and turquoise light. The shades of red in the aura really speak of passion and impulsive feelings, orange — the joy of creativity and vitality.

Symbols of love

In addition to color, by painting love, we can depict symbols that are strongly associated with this feeling in the human mind. There are quite a few such characters. Some of them are understood by the majority, others are used in the culture of individual countries.

A couple in love is perhaps the most universal symbol of tender feelings, requiring no more explanation and understandable to a representative of any culture. The tenderness of the gazes directed at each other, the interlacing of hands, hugs, the kiss of two lovers depicted in the picture, will tell the viewer everything about love and relationships.

A pair of cooing pigeons also personifies the mutual tenderness of a couple in love. Swans, throughout time, have been considered a symbol of fidelity and eternal love. Other animals and birds can also serve as symbols of this feeling. Swallows in many nations, symbolize tenderness and a desire to create a cozy home nest. And the mention of the duck and the drake following it can be found, for example, in Russian folklore. 

The image of the heart can also be considered international. Hearts decorated with gifts and cards are dedicated to loved ones. A heart pierced by an arrow symbolizes unhappy love. Crossed rings also eloquently suggest that two people decided to unite their fates and live together in love and harmony. 

Feelings are usually expressed by words, gestures, and glances, but by placing one or more symbols of love in a picture and even using colors of the right scheme, artists can have no doubt that the viewer understands that they want to depict precisely this feeling. 

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