Hidden symbols and numerology in paintings

When looking at a painting, many of us tend to be captivated by the colours and brush strokes that make up the artwork. But did you know there are often hidden symbols or numerology embedded in these paintings that may not be as immediately noticeable? Symbols like these have been found in paintings dating back centuries and can tell us much about the meaning behind a piece of artwork. 

Symbols often have deep meanings behind them and they can be incredibly important when interpreting a work of art. They can communicate anything from an artist's political beliefs to religious messages or even aspects of their own personal lives. For example, Renaissance painters like Botticelli and Caravaggio used various Christian symbols in their work, such as halos around Christ figures or white lilies signifying Mary’s purity. The use of hidden symbols helps give a painting multiple layers of interpretation, which is part of what makes viewing it so interesting. 

 

Another interesting use of symbolism can be seen in Pre-Raphaelite paintings from the 19th century. The artists of this movement were inspired by medieval romance and used allegory and symbolism extensively to create images that were beautiful yet layered with hidden meanings. Flowers in particular feature prominently in Pre-Raphaelite works, where each flower has its own special meaning related to different concepts such as faithfulness or unrequited love. These same flowers appear in classical mythology as well, which further adds to the potential meanings of a piece. 

From the renaissance period, 

One of the most popular symbols

is the Vitruvian Man, created by Leonardo da Vinci in 1490. This iconic image symbolizes humanity’s desire to harmoniously combine science and art. It depicts a man in two superimposed positions – one in which he is standing inside a circle, representing perfect harmony and balance; while the other has him standing within a square which denotes a combination of order with creative expression. 

Numerology was also an important part of understanding this era. Symbolic numbers such as 3, 7, 9, 12 were thought to contain powerful secrets about creation. The number three symbolized growth through transformation – its triangular shape is seen everywhere in nature. Seven signified completeness due to its combination of both odd (3) and even (4) numbers – which led to the seven-day week for example. Nine stood for renewal – a cyclic pattern returning to its origin point. Finally twelve was used to represent unity – from it stems all possible combinations of numerical values from 1-9 being found within it if added up correctly! 

These are just a few examples of how symbolism and numerology were used during this time - but it can still help us today if we use it correctly. Through an appreciation of our past, we can better understand our present, so why not try exploring these ideas further?

Finally, we cannot talk about symbolic art without mentioning the Surrealist movement from the early 20th century. These painters drew on subconscious imagery to evoke dream-like landscapes that had hidden meaning within them. Dreams have always been considered very important sources of insight into our innermost selves and emotions; therefore surrealist paintings make heavy use of symbolic objects meant to express feelings or explore dreams beyond words. One example would be Dali’s melting clocks which represent his view on how time is nonlinear – something difficult to explain through language alone but captured perfectly through this unique image. 

In conclusion, exploring symbols within paintings can lead to incredible discoveries regarding both an artist’s message and personal interpretation. Hidden meanings contained within symbols remain timeless – something we still experience today no matter if we are looking at modern art or centuries-old pieces!