MiDtErM

http://www.penwith.co.uk/artofeurope/bosch_garden_earthly_delights.jpg

^^^Check it out here!!!!^^^ =D

The piece of artwork I chose is “The Garden of Earthly Delights” by Hieronymus Bosch. He painted this awesome triptych during 1503-04 and is now housed in the Museo del Prado in Madrid, Spain since 1939. Its dimensions are 87 in. by 153 in. and is a three paneled oil and wood triptych.
I have always been drawn to this painting basically because it is so weird. Especially to have been painted in the early 1500’s when Bosch was in his 50’s it seems like it would have been a more modern painting for that time. The use of color and abstract figures is something I would expect for myself or someone my age to paint now. The left panel of the triptych is (or is thought to be) a depiction of the beginning of creation. All the important figures are represented, specifically the concrete figures of the creation story, Adam and Eve. The middle panel is large in comparison to the other two and is just a mess when you first look at it. There is a little bit of everything going on. The most obvious thing is all of the naked people doing whatever they may be doing. Also they all appear to be rather young. Some people speculate that this may be Bosch’s interpretation of the sinfulness of the world after creation or that it may be a depiction of the paradise we lost with the fall of man. Whatever it was meant, it is really cool and keeps me entertained. I am always trying to figure it out and making up little stories about all the people and why they look the way they do or why they are doing whatever they are doing. The panel on the right is hell. There isn’t really any other way to interpret it especially if you get the correct imagery out of the first two panels. It is thought to be Bosch’s depiction of what happens when humans fall to temptation. The city is even burning, it’s obviously hell.
My first impression of this particular piece was just that I loved it. Then after learning a little bit about it I just agreed with the background I had been given about it being creation and earth and hell. Then upon putting more thought into it, my own interpretation, I should say my next guess, would be that the left panel is good, the right panel is evil and the middle panel is the struggle between the two. You can see in the middle panel some solo people looking out on the crazy other people and I can imagine them being unsure what to think about the things going on around them, trying to figure out what is right for them or where they stand. I consider it more a portrait of humanity and temptation than a temptation to hell type scenario. Although traditionally triptychs are meant to be “read” from left to right and Bosch’s other two triptychs are “read” from left to right, that doesn’t mean this one necessarily had to follow the pattern. Even though it probably does, I still like my interpretation not completely ruling out the expert’s opinions. It’s good to break the mold every now and then!