Inherently Visual Analysis Of A Woman

The artwork illustrated depicts a hand wearing a rose corsage with a biblical cross attachment and a young woman; additionally, the rope that appears to have been connecting the hand and the woman together has been broken, resulting in the woman to be suspended in free fall. Through the symbolism found in the color choices and the metaphor of the hand, rope, and woman, that convey the relationship between religion/moral code and one’s self, the artwork suggests that human beings are left in a state of free fall – constantly reaching out and searching for something that is not there - when faced with the absurd, the notion that life is meaningless due to the inevitability of death. Ultimately, the artwork illustrates the Absurdist concept that

The woman from far away appears to be mostly white – blank even. However, upon further inspection, it can be seen that the woman’s skin is actually a blend of a multitude of colors – pinks, yellows, purples, etc. softly define the woman’s features. This artistic choice is representative of the idea that while in the grand scheme of the universe, the view from “far away”, life is meaningless – it should be bland. However, up close, it can be seen that life is actually full of color as each human being creates their own values and perceptions on life. This concept parallels the metaphor of Sisyphus, found in Albert Camus’ “The Myth of Sisyphus,” in that, if one were to view Sisyphus from a distance, they would only see his efforts to roll his rock as torturous. However, if one were to view Sisyphus up close, one would see “Sisyphus happy” (378). Furthermore, the color choice in the woman’s skin also, quite literally, relates to the existentialist concept, found in Jean-Paul Sartre’s “Existentialism is a Humanism,” that, “[m]an is nothing else but that which he makes of himself” (349). The woman, who is delicate and feminine, is colored in light, pastel hues; these hues carry a soft and womanish vibe which represents who she is. While the state of absurdism one finds themselves in can indeed be terrifying, the

The hand is embellished with a pastel rose with a flower adorned cross attached to it. The hand itself represents the aid that many people find themselves relying upon; specifically, the rose and cross symbolize human nature/moral code and religion. At first glance, this hand appears to be harmless and quite enticing. However, the hand also includes a bundle of ropes attached to it which triggers a variety of warning signs. While the hand may appear to offer aid, it bounds its victim with ropes that constrict the person’s actions. However, by consciously choosing to cut the ties to this false safety net, one is dropped into the absurdity of life – represented by the black circle surrounding the woman. One would assume that this plunge into darkness would be horrid, yet, the woman’s expression remains peaceful – smiling even. This expression is due to her realizing her freedom – the freedom to make her own choices and to not be bound to some predetermined rules set to constrict one’s choices. Additionally, the woman is now in free fall. During this fall she is free to decide what to do, however, eventually, she is bound to land and die which represents the inevitability of death. Yet, the woman continues to fight to live, even upon facing the realization that whatever actions made is