Death and Flesh

Continuing with the symbolism in 16^th and 17^th Century painting, slaughtered animals were commonly used as a symbol for the death of a believer. Perhaps there were allusions to the ‘weak flesh’ (Mathew 16:41)

These associations may have been made with ‘Butcher’s Stall’ by Pieter Aertsen.

Aertsen (1551) The Butcher's Stall Antwerp University Art collection Uppsala University, Sweden.

In the foreground there is an abundance of shapes and stages of animal products. Some of the parts on show are not often consumed by Westerners today, like intestines, lard or trotters. (Although many chefs are trying to bring these parts back onto our tables) Further back, in the centre there is a carcass of a pig hung up. I chose to study this painting as Aertsen visually stuns us with the hyper-real meat fish and bird display in the foreground. Then as we tear our eyes away and study the painting more closely we can see other subjects-people eating, drinking and celebrating in the background. There is also a little vignette of the holy family with Mary reaching down to give something to a child.
There is so much in this painting, it almost give the viewer visual over load. I would like to create the same effect on the senses with my work!

 http://artforbreakfast.org/