Umberto Eco has a great essay about seeing something like seven wax copies of the Last Supper just on a trip from LA to San Francisco. I think Hokusai's The Wave is another --maybe Starry Night? It becomes so iconic almost like a memorized poem. What I found personally so unexpected was my reaction to seeing the real Leonardo in Milan--not being a fan of Leonardo and not a fan of Last Supper iconography–and of the three possible Last Supper subjects, my least favorite is the one Leonardo chose: that of the betrayal-- I was so surprised to find myself moved to tears. It was like the work was bearing down on me... so I don't think it necessarily removes the power of the art because the art has its own power but yeah.... memes!!
I understand your reaction to the da Vinci: We've become so inured to the digital glut of certain images, that when we actually see the work in person, it can be overwhelming.
Umberto Eco has a great essay about seeing something like seven wax copies of the Last Supper just on a trip from LA to San Francisco. I think Hokusai's The Wave is another --maybe Starry Night? It becomes so iconic almost like a memorized poem. What I found personally so unexpected was my reaction to seeing the real Leonardo in Milan--not being a fan of Leonardo and not a fan of Last Supper iconography–and of the three possible Last Supper subjects, my least favorite is the one Leonardo chose: that of the betrayal-- I was so surprised to find myself moved to tears. It was like the work was bearing down on me... so I don't think it necessarily removes the power of the art because the art has its own power but yeah.... memes!!
I understand your reaction to the da Vinci: We've become so inured to the digital glut of certain images, that when we actually see the work in person, it can be overwhelming.
I like memes better than art!
I like some memes better than some art!
He doesn't meme that.