The painting “The Death of the Grave-Digger is a very symbolic painting. Carlos Schwabe included many small features in the painting that symbolize many things, and some people do not catch them. You must thoroughly analyze the painting to truly understand its meaning. Its true meaning is hidden within.
When you first look at The Death of the Grave-Digger the first thing that catches most people’s attention is the Angel of Death. She is the main image of the painting. She mainly stands out because her clothing is very dark compared to the snow in the background. Her dark wings are surrounding the man, as if she were taking care of him. She appears as if she is about to take his soul and lay it to rest. She may appear as an evil figure, but is doing no harm.
The grass in The Death of the Grave-Digger appears to either be just growing, or just dying. The grass may symbolize the death of one life, and the beginning of a new one. The grave-digger lost his life, but the angel is there so he may begin a new one. In the background, the sun appears to either be setting or rising. That may also be a symbol of a new life. The sun always seems to be a symbol of life.
When you look at the image, you can easily tell what the yonic, and phallic. The phallic symbol is the grave-diggers shovel. It appears that the man had dug his own grave. He may have known that his life was coming to an end soon. The yonic symbol is the hole he dug. When I looked at the image, I noticed that the phallic symbol was in the yonic symbol. These hidden images make this artwork a masterpiece.
A very good, and concise, analysis of this masterpiece. One observation: The “grass” at the foot of the picture growing next to the grave are surely Snowdrop plants (in German Schneeglöckchen, trans Little Snow Bells). One of my favourite plants and for us the first sign of the forthcoming Spring and in the context of this picture surely a symbol of returning life and transfiguration.
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