While some writers of #books and #screenplays seem to be endless wells of ideas, many writers look anywhere they can for #inspiration. I would like to propose that you generally need not look any further than the artwork of our ancestors. I have included a few examples below . . .
Caravaggio “David with the head of Goliath” 1606-1607
Ah, the famed story of David and Goliath as seen through the eyes of #Caravaggio. Where is the inspiration here, you ask? It is a story that has been told and re-told many times with different characters playing the parts of David and Goliath in different settings and years.
In my opinion, Caravaggio placed the story of this painting in the eyes. Look again. Think about it. Goliath sits stunned . . . Frozen in death. David looks down upon Goliath (sword still at the ready) with sorrowful eyes as if to feel sorry for Goliath.
Food for thought.
”The Green Christ“ by Paul #Gauguin 1889
A ship sails in the background. A worker tends to the fields. A female figure staring into the distance. Is she looking for something? The figure in the foreground appears to be hiding. (From the female figure?) “The Green Christ” itself reaches down as if to lend assistance as a court of three nuns supervises.
“Room in New York” Edward #Hopper 1932
We seem to be peeping toms into the lives of this couple. The female figure in the red dress taps out a tune on the piano. Her legs pointing toward the seemingly disinterested male figure who would much rather be reading the newspaper. Why does the women appear to be sorrowful? Why does the man seem to be disinterested to the point of anger? These are just a few of many possible interpretations.
“The Starry Night” by Vincent Van Gogh 1889
Here is one of the more well known paintings that I have included here. Van Gogh‘s interpretation of a night sky over Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France invokes pure feeling. Some say is produces anxiety. Some say wonder. Some say it produces the feeling of a higher power. Some prefer to call it only a reflection of the mental and emotional state of the painter. Now, you decide.
” The Mystical Nativity” by Sandro #Botticelli 1500AD
There is quite a bit of stuff going on in this painting. Obviously, the crux concerns the nativity. However, you could separate this painting into three parts. Part 1 : the nativity Part 2: the embrace between angel and man below the classic nativity scene and Part 3: The Roof and Above - the dance of the hierarchy of angels. The painting is good at producing a view of the artists interpretation of the unseen goings on at the nativity. That is my interpretation, you say? Quite right.
“The Face of War” by Salvador Dali 1940
Long after WWI. A year or two after the Spanish Civil War that spawned Dali to denounce fascism. Salvador #Dali fled to the United States at the beginning of WWII as yet another fascist regime prepared to overrun Europe. Dali was well aware of the horrors of war.
The snake like appendages ready to strike back at the face from whence they came. The faces within faces illuminated by the sun stands possibly in fear. Eyes within eyes set upon a sandy wasteland. A bony hand reaching out of the shadow. Dali’s aptly named “The Face of War” gives you an abstract look at the horrors and insanity of war dooming all those who take part a trip into the depths of sin.
These paintings do not even scratch the surface of the art to look towards for inspiration in writing. Since we are looking at these to create inspiration for your next screenplay, I have chosen a highly interpretive visual medium in which to provide that inspiration.
Let me know what you come up with!
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