Comparison between Cyclops and Sirens

Comparison between Cyclops and Sirens

Mythical beings were common in ancient Greek history. People in Greece revered these ancient mythical beings, even though most of them were fictional. The mystical beings provided various meanings and implications to the Greek society since they were part of the Greek system. Many were regarded as great warriors who were used to protect the Greek society. The study will analyze some of these Greek mythical beings to unravel their definition, paintings and further conduct a comparison with other paintings from other Greek mythical beings. Specifically, the study will conduct an assessment on Cyclops and later compare it with the Siren paintings.

A Cyclop was a one-eyed giant figure that was prevalent in ancient Greek society.  The Greeks believed that numerous Cyclopes were living in a faraway land that was devoid of any law and order. The cyclones were regarded as pastoralists’ beings that had savage characteristics. The cyclopes were regarded as foreign beings that had special abilities such as in manufacturing. The story of cyclopes has been inscribed in art not only within Greek society but also in roman art. Additionally, the arts have also been used all over the world to detail the Greek history both as scholarly works and for entertainment.

The study will analyze one of the symbolist works that were made in the 1800s. The painting was conducted by Odilon Redon that encapsulated a sense of somberness and mystery. The painting represented the connection of the figure with the inner themes. The painting was particularly credited for its use of unique styles and impressive colors that followed a whimsical state.

The painting is a classic example of the latter works by Redon, which embodied sublime crafting and at the same, acted as the blueprint towards the creation of signature paintings and colorful pastels. An analysis of the previous works by the artist can give a better understanding of how this painting came about. The Cyclops paintings encapsulated the future of Redon’s works by providing a concise analysis of how the future of painting will be crafted.

The cyclops painting was primarily made from wood in the late 19^th century. The location of the art was in the Kroller-Muller collection within the museum. The painting is a representation of the Greek literature and more specifically regarding the unrequited desires of the Cyclops.  In the painting, the Cyclops is displayed standing in the background overlooking a woman who is lying in the background.  The painting includes the various category of colors and impasto that are present throughout the painting.  The use of different colors creates a harmony between the setting and the subjects.  The correlation between the two figures is mainly done by interchanging gold and yellow pigments against the blue environment that dominates the painting. They are further separated by a purple color that is used as a barrier, which can be assumed to mention a division of the feelings of the Cyclop. The expression is somewhat a representation of a juvenile character and one filled with curiosity.

Additionally, the blue sky is used to represent peace. The woman, on the other hand, is surrounded by a busy color that plays down the painting. She is seen looking away with her head looking downwards and somewhat depicting a laid-back approach. The interchange of colors and the display of emotions were pivotal in enabling the artist to enable us to understand the essence of the two figures within the painting. Also, it enabled us to understand the message of this representation.

The Siren by John Waterhouse, on the other hand, encapsulates a siren which is placed at the edge of the cliff. It has a layer on the arms and is seen staring down at a sailor who is looking backwards in an intimate manner, possibly recovering from the capsizing of a ship. The scene depicts the siren as an innocent figure as opposed to an evil seducer since she is naked. As opposed to the slight hint on her legs, the siren is displayed as a true human being, and there are little indications that it could be a monster. The painting was done at the beginning of the 20^th century, which implies that it was conducted at almost the same time as the Cyclop painting. The canvas of the painting measured 53 centimeters by 81 centimeters.

Just like Waterhouse has tried to depict in most of her works, the painting is a representation of an amalgamation of art and mythology. The sirens were presumed to lure sailors through the use of voices and songs. The creatures were therefore dangerous and appear in many Greek stories, including the Odyssey. They are also common in many ancient roman stories.

The painting was completed in 1891 and featured various sirens in the form of intimidating prey birds in a dramatic scene that conforms to most of the traditional assertions of Sirens as revealed in the mythological figures of Greece. They often circled ships in transition, while being commanded by other similar figures. The idea of the painting was primarily used to detail the complex classification of sirens using a mixture of colors. The painting was influenced largely by the Roman pieces of art and other spiritual themes that were common in the Roman traditions. Additionally, the features of the paintings were also common in works of literature and mythology. Also, it featured works of poetry and mythology from the Greek society.

In conclusion, the study affirms that there are similarities as well as differences between the Cyclops and the Sirens. The two are some of the most popular Greek paintings and were drawn at the onset of the 20^th century. While it is clear that the Cyclops were the first paintings to be developed, the Siren paintings came almost immediately. Artists of both paintings used an assortment of colors to display these mystical figures whose influence in Greek society is evident.