A lot of people will blame me for what I'm going to say, but those with open minds will consider my point of view and maybe pick up something from my interesting experience. A few days ago, when I met the striking image of this picture, I didn't even know the name of that enigmatic masterpiece, not mention the name of its author. But I wasn't upset by this ignorance at all, because I've learned and appreciated at that moment the power of such unexpected encounter, when you're absolutely opened to perceive, apprehend the art work with perfect clarity of mind, without any influences of so called "knowledge". This lack of knowledge, ignorance, the darkness in the field of high art gave me an amazing opportunity to take my time and express the feelings and emotions this painting filled me with.
As a learner of English I would dare to recommend to all of you, who shares the love to this language, describing unknown art works, because such "unforgiven" rudeness gives you the freedom of perception.
To begin with, this is definitely an ambiguous work. The meaning of it isn't clear and therefore is open to any plausible, even opposite interpretations. What I mostly loved in this picture is that it invites viewers to find the unique meaning of this art work that resonates to their hearts. This in turn gives us the opportunity to comprehend the meaning through the condition of our own hearts and the prism we look at this world through, at this very moment.
As for me, the subtle colours and the main and only character's solitude creates a feeling of deep detachment. I get the impression that he is deeply immersed in his thoughts and is in a state of internal struggle. Though he seems to be very proud and success man in a common sense, I see the strong inner doubts and contradictions he feels about his current life position.
I was caught by this painting at such moment in my life, when I see the endless possibilities offered to the wanderer by the expansive landscape that lies ahead. But he can hardly see them through the fog of his thoughts and doubts. It seems to me that he came to the point when anyone, including a part of the wanderer himself, has the right to call him a success man. This man has an extensive experience behind, he has achieved a lot, but now, when he should be contemplating his life from the perspective of a winner, how it was supposed to be, he doesn't feel this way.
He knows exactly that there's still so much to be done - countless peaks are waiting to be conquered, unexplored paths are waiting to be traversed by him. But all this possibilities are drowning in the thick of the fog, because they cannot be compared to the one that is increasingly occupying his mind, his heart. This only peak that is indeed worth its conquering symbolises the setting up a family. Author depicted the wanderer in a moment of his triumph to emphasise that all his achivments from the past, no matter how big they are, aren't worth a dime in comparison with a happy family.
Furthermore, the wanderer feels that this is the only way to get the integrity, become a complete and satisfied personality. We see the character in a delicate, almost intimate moment of a difficult choice between the ambitions and the growing desire to create a family and settle down at last. He is definitely aware that a huge variety of prospects are going to be abandoned, forever. It makes the wanderer and the atmosphere of the entire picture a little dramatic, especially since we understand that a part of this character is going to be perished. But that's the price of any big decision - especially creating a happy and stable family.
Not everyone will agree with me that this decision is so difficult, but here I would like to quote Beverly Clark (Susan Sarandon), a character from one of my favorite movies "Shall we dance?".
She asks a private investigator, Devine (Richard Jenkins):
"All these promises that we make and we break. Why is it, do you think, that people get married?"
Then Beverly answers her own question with words I love so much:
"Because we need a witness to our lives. There's a billion people on the planet. I mean, what does any one life really mean? But in a marriage, you're promising to care about everything - the good things, the bad things, the terrible things, the mundane things... All of it. All the time, every day. You're saying, your life will not go unnoticed, because I will notice it. Your life will not go unwitnessed, because I will be your witness."
From this viewpoint, I couldn't agree more: marriage isn't just a goal you have to achieve to go through the motions, to keep up appearances. That's a lifelong promise to make each other's lives comfortable, happy, full of mutual care and love. The character is a man of high moral qualities and he realizes this conception of marriage very well. That's why he stands on that deceptive apogee of his life so thoughtful and detached from the hustle and bustle of the world around him. He must make a decision on his own, alone, without the involvement of friends or anyone else.
That's my own vision of this picture, which is relevant at the current moment. And what about you? What do you see on that picture and in your heart, gazing through this masterpiece there?