Lost in Translation
Looking for meanings in words, images and sounds
Thursday’s Special: Symbolism
Four couples in love, a baby and an old man are shown as bronze figures surrounding a fountain in the centre of Zagreb.
The sculpture, whose life-size statues are evocative of Rodin’s work, shows movement and continuum of the cycle of life. Paired human figures are embracing the well, the source of life with joy and carelessness, driven by love, life’s greatest mystery and its ultimate purpose.
The central figure in Meštrović’s masterpiece is the old man at the end of his life who is contemplating the accumulated water (the life he lived) with regret.
Ivan Meštrović, the most renowned Croatian sculptor and one of the world’s greatest sculptors of the 20th century, created his “Well of Life” (Zdenac života in Croatian) while still a student in 1905. In 1912 the sculpture was placed on the square before the building of the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb where it still stands.
This post is my response to guest challenge themed “symbolism” and hosted by Madhu. Please see her post and join her for this exciting challenge. Happy Thursday everyone!
Lost in Translation 
love it.. love art and culture
LikeLike
Thanks, Jeff!
LikeLike
A fantastic choice for the theme of symbolism Paula! Your photos do justice to that amazing sculpture. Love the close-ups. And the accompaniment! 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you, Madhu. The accompaniment is typical Croatian a cappella singing. The song’s title is “I fell in love with you”.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s beautiful!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love your close up images, Paula. The faces are so expressive.
LikeLike
Ivan Meštrović was a remarkable sculptor. Thank you, Debbie 🙂
LikeLike
Molto significativo. Bellissimo.
Grazie Paula, più tardi ti mando il mio contributo…
Baci
LikeLike
Grazie cara Anna. I look forward to your entry.
LikeLike
Nice post. I like the close-ups.
Here is mine:
http://lessywannagohome.blogspot.be/2015/04/thursdays-special-symbolism.html
LikeLike
I’ve only seen it from outside. This is a terrific entry for this challenge, Klara. Thank you.
LikeLike
A fine interpretation. Especially moving is the old man gazing into the water – his reflected life – so many layers of meaning captured here, Paula.
LikeLike
Glad to know you like it, Tish.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks to expand my horizons, didn’t know this very talented croatian sculptor… 🙂
LikeLike
Entirely my pleasure, Drake 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Shall I expect a “symbolic” post from you? 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah, you don’t get free nor this time… 😀
It will pop up when you are sweet sleeping the sleep of the innocents sleep later this evening or early night… 😉
LikeLike
Yeahhhhhh 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
‘hehe’ – one sleep too many, probably it was me who was sleeping… 😀
LikeLike
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I had my nap, and still no entry from you? 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ivan Meštrović was a remarkable sculptor indeed! Thank you for sharing this beautiful art and music with us Paula.
Stor *KLEM* to you ❤
LikeLike
Klem to you Dina xx
LikeLike
A very interesting artwork. There’s a lot of emotion in the eyes and face of the man looking into the water.
LikeLike
Yes! Thank you for looking at the post dear Dragon 🙂
LikeLike
No problem. Do you have a theme for this Sunday?
LikeLike
Hello Draco 🙂 Normally, here you can see all forthcoming challenges https://bopaula.wordpress.com/scheduled-challenges/ This Sunday I have a guest blogger participating and his theme is perspective and anti-perspective shown in two shots. Would you be willing to host a challenge (B&W or colour) some time this year. All you have to do is to come up with the theme and shots and let it be published on my blog?
LikeLike
I’ll give it some thought. The hard part is guessing what weeks I will be posting.
You know I’m taking more and more time off from blogging. It’s May, and I’ve only done 12 posts (i.e. 6 weeks of blogging) so far.
LikeLike
I know Draco, and I am sorry you can’t spend more time on blog. I hope that it can change for you and that the reason gor your scarce appearance is not boredom.
LikeLike
Pingback: Taj Mahal, Hindustan | artishorseshit
Excellent shots Paula and a nice challenge by Madhu. I love the symbolism with the old man looking in the water.
Here’s my symbolism post, but is a symbol of love or slavery?
https://artishorseshit.wordpress.com/2015/04/30/taj-mahal-hindustan/
LikeLike
😀 It’s difficult to answer that one CG. I like your post 🙂
LikeLike
I agree. I guess that for many (most?) people it’s a symbol of love, but since I know a little bit about the brutality behind it, I see through the ‘happy Bollywood story’-BS.
So, for me it’s a bit of both.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love & brutality goes hand in hand. Romance has never tasted sweeter 😀
LikeLike
Sounds like an advertisement for a BS movie 😀
LikeLike
Hehe. I’d love to see that movie!
LikeLike
Wow, that’s beautiful.
LikeLike
Thank you. I’m pleased you like it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Touching choices, Paula from the fountain and water to the expressions and human relationships. Lovely choice.
LikeLike
🙂 So happy you like it, Lisa.
LikeLiked by 1 person
i’m grateful to have
experienced this piece
here 🙂
LikeLike
How nice of you 🙂 Thank you very much for your visit.
LikeLike
A beautiful and amazing sculpture, Paula, and perfect for “symbolism.” 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks Linda. I am happy when I manage to show some of the unique pieces of art in my town, This one is really outstanding.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve just posted my contribution…
The Duomo of Milan as a symbol of the Expo 2015 , starting tomorrow!
Bye , Paula!
LikeLike
Inspiring structure 🙂 Thank you very much for your contribution, Anna.
LikeLike
Just fantastic presentation of one of the most iconic, recognizable and unique sculptures in Zagreb. I dare say “Well of Life” is for Zagreb what Lady Liberty is for New York, Eiffel Tower for Paris and Big Ben for London. Any other sculpture or landmark from Zagreb can easily be misplaced in any other European city but not the Well of Life. If you ever visit Zagreb try to find it, sit around it, throw a coin in it and make a wish.
LikeLike
🙂 🙂 🙂
LikeLike
Pingback: Catharsis | Art and Life
A deeply moving sculpture – how sad to live a life and then feel regret at the end. Here’s my contribution to the challenge http://artifactsandfictions.com/2015/05/01/catharsis/
LikeLike
Thank you very much, Suzanne. I’m glad that the artist in you could appreciate this outstanding work.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, it is finely carved and so emotive. A profound work.
LikeLike
Thank you again for your “Catharsis” Suzanne. I like everything about it – the landscape, composition, colour.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks again Paula. Madhu’s prompt stimulated my imagination
LikeLike
Pingback: The symbolic equipment | Le Drake Noir
So interesting and evocative. Love this
LikeLike
Wouldn’t it be great if you could visit some day? 🙂
LikeLike
a beauty of a sculpture – and to think he was a student when he made it?
LikeLike
Yes! Rodin said about Mestrovic that he is “greatest phenomenon amongst the sculptors of the world”, and he even posed to him for his portrait in Mestrovic’s studio in Rome. It was a mutual admiration 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
how cool…..
LikeLike
A beautiful series of the whole sculpture, details and setting. And another thing I missed in Zagreb! Thank you.
LikeLike
Next time I’ll show you around.
LikeLike
This is a remarkable masterpiece
LikeLike
Yes, it is. I am glad you visited my blog and discovered it. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Super that he was driving and keep typing
LikeLike
This is a knockout sculpture. I love the symbolism and the way the bronze is gleaming from the touch of many hands.
LikeLike
So glad you like it Hilary. Did you have a chance to see some of Mestrovic’s work before?
LikeLike
What a fabulous sculpture! I so want to stroke it! 🙂
LikeLike
Mestrovic was one of the world’s greatest sculptors of the 20th century, and this is one of his earliest works.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Unique post ,a universal message. Best regards.
LikeLike
Hello Jalal 🙂 I am very happy that you have seen this post. You are right about the universal message. So lovely to see your comment. Best wishes to you and your family.
LikeLike
Wishing you the same Paula.
LikeLike
Excellent post. Sculpture is an art that I have long wished that I had a natural gift for. I have always loved it, especially Renaissance and Beaux Arts bronze work. It is so expressive.
LikeLike
That’s a thing we have in common, Allan. Of all the visual art, sculpture is my favourite.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: Circle of Love | Lost in Translation