Difference between revisions of "Lemekh and His Wives in Art/0/en"
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<p>The Alexander Master depicts Lemech as a hunter.  He stands to the viewer's left, holding his bow and arrow, aiming to shoot.  Near him a young boy lies face down on the ground, while a second man lies a bit further away with an arrow through his heart.  This Lemekh's emotions are hard to read, and contain neither signs of despair nor pride.</p> | <p>The Alexander Master depicts Lemech as a hunter.  He stands to the viewer's left, holding his bow and arrow, aiming to shoot.  Near him a young boy lies face down on the ground, while a second man lies a bit further away with an arrow through his heart.  This Lemekh's emotions are hard to read, and contain neither signs of despair nor pride.</p> | ||
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| − | <subcategory>Speculum | + | <subcategory>Speculum  |
| − | <p>This depiction differs form the others in that it contains no hints of violence on the part of Lemech at all, no sword and no dead bodies.  Instead, a somewhat foolish looking Lemech stands in between his two wives, who raise their fists at him and pull on his hair.  Lemech | + | <p>This depiction differs form the others in that it contains no hints of violence on the part of Lemech at all, no sword and no dead bodies.  Instead, a somewhat foolish-looking Lemech stands in between his two wives, who raise their fists at him and pull on his hair.  Lemech lifts his hands as if to say, "enough, what do you want from me?"</p> |
</subcategory> | </subcategory> | ||
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Version as of 08:14, 26 June 2015
Lemekh in Art
Overview
The character of Lamekh appears in Tanakh only briefly, relaying an enigmatic speech to his wives which hints to a murder, but does not elaborate further. The four artworks displayed here, the painting by William Blake,1 the woodcut by Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld, 2 the engraving by the Alexander Master,3 and the miniature from the Speculum humanæ salvationis all depict the event. The portrayals differ in almost every detail, from the choice of characters included, to the emotions they express and the actions they commit. The variety reflects the many different ways the story has been understood.Contrasting Images
Blake
Blake's image is full of pathos with a grief-stricken Lemech taking center stage. Lemech pulls his hair in anguish as he looks at the dead body sprawled on the floor by his feet. His wives stand to the side, embracing each other in their shared sorrow as they look at both their husband and his victim.
Schnorr
Schnorr's Lamekh has no resemblance to that of Blake. He is not tormented by heartache but rather stands proud and defiant, his sword raised in a sign of victory. He runs home to his waiting wives and family, who look up at him with admiration.
Alexander Master
The Alexander Master depicts Lemech as a hunter. He stands to the viewer's left, holding his bow and arrow, aiming to shoot. Near him a young boy lies face down on the ground, while a second man lies a bit further away with an arrow through his heart. This Lemekh's emotions are hard to read, and contain neither signs of despair nor pride.
Speculum
This depiction differs form the others in that it contains no hints of violence on the part of Lemech at all, no sword and no dead bodies. Instead, a somewhat foolish-looking Lemech stands in between his two wives, who raise their fists at him and pull on his hair. Lemech lifts his hands as if to say, "enough, what do you want from me?"
Relationship to the Biblical Text
The artists' choices reflect certain ambiguities in the Biblical text and different possible interpretive stances:
