How This Artist Fell In Love With His Own Art

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  • Опубліковано 30 вер 2023
  • Pygmalion and Galatea's story is a classic in art history, but Jean-Léon Gérôme made it iconic through one painting.
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КОМЕНТАРІ • 257

  • @TheCanvasArtHistory
    @TheCanvasArtHistory  8 місяців тому +54

    Streaming in about an hour on twitch.tv/germinaal!
    Get in the discord: discord.gg/xF57zX9F8C

    • @mariannairam2218
      @mariannairam2218 8 місяців тому

      but does she really turn into human or his passion and love for work turn him into one of the statues/Exegi monumentum aere perennius

    • @numbersix8919
      @numbersix8919 8 місяців тому +1

      You always surprise us! most rewardingly.

    • @Pedro-vl7yr
      @Pedro-vl7yr 7 місяців тому

      @TheCavasArtHistory could you tell me the song of this video, please?

  • @viktoriabentham8664
    @viktoriabentham8664 8 місяців тому +1399

    Ancient Greek version of marrying your anime wifu.

    • @misslady2639
      @misslady2639 8 місяців тому +29

      So true🤣

    • @nitorice
      @nitorice 8 місяців тому +13

      LMFAOOOOOO

    • @LeviTheDemonDragon
      @LeviTheDemonDragon 8 місяців тому +16

      I WAS NOT EXPECTING TO SEE THAT COMMENT, AND ALMOST SPAT OUT MY DRINK

    • @Thetaxevader_54
      @Thetaxevader_54 8 місяців тому +4

      Lafmo

    • @ShadowDream
      @ShadowDream 7 місяців тому +5

      Now that makes me wonder...is there a genderbend version?😂

  • @tubthungusbychumbungus
    @tubthungusbychumbungus 8 місяців тому +1001

    This painting always felt so dark to me. Pygmalion is grasping her strongly, she is born seconds ago, she is being kissed by a man with legs still in stone, she couldnt move. Her hand looked to me as though she was pulling his hand off of her. He formed her in his ideal, to be his vision of beauty. This is depicting control to me, she has no choice but to be his lover.
    Edit: leave it to men to tell me I'm absolutely wrong for believing an Ancient Greek myth might be a little mysoginistic, because the Ancient Greeks had such a great track record for loving women.

    • @capuchinosofia4771
      @capuchinosofia4771 8 місяців тому +169

      This is what I came to comment! My interpretation of the painting is similar to yours. She it trying to either slow him down (like, hey i love you too but lets wait a second) or get him off completely. I could have sworn there is another version of this myth in the which galatea runs off once she is alive. Maybe im mistaken. But this painting certainly reads as the start of a bad moment instead of a beautiful lovers embrace.

    • @flux.aeterna
      @flux.aeterna 8 місяців тому +25

      Agree!

    • @someuser4166
      @someuser4166 8 місяців тому +52

      I also felt she was resisting him and was trying to pull / push him away

    • @AxiOll
      @AxiOll 8 місяців тому +87

      Interesting interpretation, considering the painting in isolation I can totally see this vibe. In my opinion, seen in the context of the additional sculpture and paintings where the artist literally puts himself in the place of Pygmalion, personally I don't think he would intentionally want to portray himself in such a negative light. Also, the fact that Galatea was created by a goddess of love and her core ability is to provoke desire, it would make logical sense that she was created to be as in love with him as her is with her. The very idea of a goddess of love goes the against the idea of autonomy and consent in the first place. Anyway, it's an interesting topic.

    • @josedorsaith5261
      @josedorsaith5261 8 місяців тому +5

      Does anybody have real autonomy over who they love, though?

  • @JackT13
    @JackT13 8 місяців тому +663

    I’ve always felt that there is a distinction to be drawn between being enamoured by your own art, which is quite conceited, and being enamoured by the process and intricacies of the way in which your art is produced. The best singers aren’t necessarily obsessed by their own voices, rather they adore the act of singing itself and the joy that their art form brings to others

    • @katethegoat7507
      @katethegoat7507 8 місяців тому +56

      It's possible to love both, too. It's possible to write because you love writing, and then also getting a crush on a character you've written, possibly because you've given them all of the traits you like

    • @capuchinosofia4771
      @capuchinosofia4771 8 місяців тому +65

      Conceited? I disagree, thats too strong of a word. If an artist made something they like a lot its perfectly ok to love it (as much as you can love an object).
      Conceited would be saying "in the best artist in the world!" Not just loving your own creation.

    • @hwimilk
      @hwimilk 8 місяців тому +34

      i get what you mean, but i also think that there's a difference between loving yourself and what you produce and being conceited. i think its great to have love and affection for your own products, just as its great to love anything.

    • @numbersix8919
      @numbersix8919 8 місяців тому +10

      The work has a life of its own, you know that. We only mediate on its behalf.

    • @Ellistar
      @Ellistar 8 місяців тому +7

      I have wanted to kiss one of my sculptures before…

  • @merrillsunderland8662
    @merrillsunderland8662 8 місяців тому +312

    The story of Pygmalion feels similar to the modern conception of the Otaku who idolizes a “born yesterday” waifu created for their enjoyment, without a history or her own agency, no human flaws, not even cellulite or wrinkles or body hair…

    • @lovelessshoot883
      @lovelessshoot883 8 місяців тому +6

      ...lol

    • @z0ink5
      @z0ink5 8 місяців тому

      human behavior is a bitch. especially misogynistic patterns that can be placed throughout history.

    • @josedorsaith5261
      @josedorsaith5261 8 місяців тому +5

      Does it?

    • @lulukulu5489
      @lulukulu5489 8 місяців тому +12

      What if they have all of that human flaws? Still a waifu no?

    • @Hibisco_Angelita
      @Hibisco_Angelita 8 місяців тому +5

      @@lulukulu5489 probably not to him lol

  • @sham754
    @sham754 8 місяців тому +190

    The story of pygmalion was the first thing I ever learned about art history in middle school. The interpretation of the story is beautiful and I’m happy this started my day

  • @Germania9
    @Germania9 8 місяців тому +103

    It's tale often told....in a lot of anime. Guy falls in love with an inanimate object, guy wishes she's real, object becomes a girl and loves him back unconditionally -and without autonomy- ...

    • @basura3787
      @basura3787 8 місяців тому +5

      Could you name to me one of those? It may be because i don't watch romance but i've never heard of an anime with a plot like that

    • @lackcameron4602
      @lackcameron4602 8 місяців тому +6

      ​@@basura3787chobits is kind of like that

    • @dinnerboons1504
      @dinnerboons1504 8 місяців тому

      @@basura3787rising of the shield hero

    • @htsunmiku
      @htsunmiku 8 місяців тому +1

      There's also a vocaloid song with this plot (Leia)

  • @KrazyKaiser
    @KrazyKaiser 8 місяців тому +59

    Wait, a Greek myth with a "Happily ever after" ending? That cannot be right.

    • @BagleIce
      @BagleIce 8 місяців тому

      lol ikr?!

    • @creeperYT9824
      @creeperYT9824 8 місяців тому +4

      I assumed he would forget to thank aphrodite, aphrodite would get mad and make the statue kill this guy in his sleep ot something

  • @sunnyquinn3888
    @sunnyquinn3888 8 місяців тому +16

    When you take "putting your lover on a pedestal" very literally.

  • @magnawaves
    @magnawaves 8 місяців тому +34

    Ah, falling in love with one's oc waifu is an amateur mistake for an artist, but oft the truest love

  • @WobblesandBean
    @WobblesandBean 8 місяців тому +24

    The version of the story I know, is that the statue was of Aphrodite herself, and she initially refused his prayer. So he embraced the statue, and asked to be turned to stone so he could be forever with her. Aphrodite took pity on him, and gave Galatea life. So, this version actually makes sense.

  • @thetachyon456
    @thetachyon456 8 місяців тому +34

    Dude's a Rule 34 artist

  • @muralibhat8776
    @muralibhat8776 8 місяців тому +351

    The YT algorithm is pushing you quite hard XD

    • @nightslasher9384
      @nightslasher9384 8 місяців тому

      Y-y-yamete!!! I-YAAAAA!!! 😳🥵💦

    • @GoldenRunner
      @GoldenRunner 8 місяців тому +4

      Goood 😈

    • @Ghibli_Otaku
      @Ghibli_Otaku 8 місяців тому +1

      Fr, i don't even know how i got recommended this
      Im not complaining though

    • @avosmash2121
      @avosmash2121 Місяць тому

      Let's pray it continues!

  • @lelieutenant7386
    @lelieutenant7386 8 місяців тому +15

    There are people being like "he's literaly me!"

  • @CessBee123
    @CessBee123 8 місяців тому +13

    That's a seriously beautiful painting, but has anyone got an idea of why the two old men wailing is in the right hand corner?

  • @arcadia-art
    @arcadia-art 8 місяців тому +16

    Pygamlion brings art to life through his love.

  • @nikoa-sh6964
    @nikoa-sh6964 8 місяців тому +56

    Your videos remind me every time why I love art..
    It's not only because art is beautiful, but especially because of what makes it beautiful.

  • @someuser4166
    @someuser4166 8 місяців тому +21

    I can't say I love my own art but I do love art. Whilst I'm not happy with my own stuff it is still the physical manifestation and compilation of my years of dedication and hard work.
    Art is the most amazing thing I know of. Nothing can compare. Seeing amazing art has legit left me speechless and gave me chills. nothing else have ever managed to do that.

  • @JayAnnAych
    @JayAnnAych 8 місяців тому +133

    I love the story of Pygmalion from the viewpoint of Galatea being a metaphor for Art itself, meaning the love and artist (no matter weather he or she be a painter, musician, poet, or otherwise artistic) has for his craft where his art "coming to live" (hearing/presenting your music or artpiece to an audience, listening to your play on stage/in a movie, etc.) gives him the purest form of love and fulfillment. The LITERAL story gives me a major "ick" and feels deeply uncomfortable, creepy and unsettling, even more so when i try to remind myself that it's being meant as a romantic tale. The mysoginistic man only being able to love a woman he created according to his precise wishes without any agenda, thoughts, wants, need or even personality? Yikes. Huge "incel"-vives right there.

    • @Fluff_Noodles
      @Fluff_Noodles 8 місяців тому +2

      You explained it perfectly

    • @okkj1878
      @okkj1878 5 місяців тому +1

      What a brain dead and soulless take.

  • @chunguskhan9217
    @chunguskhan9217 8 місяців тому +15

    This was one of the most hauntingly beautiful and passionate painting I've ever seen. However you may interpret it, we can all agree that the painting was an absolute spectacle.

  • @justwaiting5744
    @justwaiting5744 8 місяців тому +9

    I saw a faded copy of this in a thrift store 2 years ago and spent several minutes squinting and the glass, trying to decipher if the central figure is a man or a woman with her hair in a bun that was too hard to see from my angle. It's always stuck with me. I'm so happy to hear its story.

  • @Amira_Phoenix
    @Amira_Phoenix 8 місяців тому +13

    Once during summer holidays I was practicing sculpture = messing around with some clay I found. And came up with an idea of a short story about a sculptor who mades a female statur so beautiful, he desires for her to be alive. And later I discovered that story exists already. A Psyche if there ever was one !

  • @jacobbaumgardner3406
    @jacobbaumgardner3406 8 місяців тому +3

    I’m not an artist connoisseur like my brother, but the way you described it with such elegance enraptured me. I had to finish the video.

  • @That_One_MF_0
    @That_One_MF_0 8 місяців тому +3

    Modern version of "Fine I'll do it myself"

  • @cardinalgin
    @cardinalgin 8 місяців тому +10

    The cherub, actually, is Eros, the Greek god of love, son of Aphrodite, who sent his magic arrows to imbue people with romantic love.

  • @camchameleon4151
    @camchameleon4151 8 місяців тому +2

    Dang man I just want to actually like my own art one step at a time

  • @Wyattinous
    @Wyattinous 8 місяців тому +9

    Your Channel is itself, a work of art. You’re a guide that breathes new life into the art community. ❤

  • @l8tralalt901
    @l8tralalt901 8 місяців тому +4

    he fell to his own oc
    lmao i feel you bro

  • @incubuz69
    @incubuz69 8 місяців тому +9

    I've fallen deeply into loving your videos, thank you for such insightful views into these fascinating works of art, never stop being your wonderful self 💜💜💜💜

  • @illvminatvs3194
    @illvminatvs3194 8 місяців тому +2

    I am enamoured with this painting on an almost spiritual level in that I too feel much like Pygmalion in this sense. Thank you

  • @philipu150
    @philipu150 8 місяців тому +2

    A lovely treatment of this painting.

  • @stephenross5586
    @stephenross5586 2 місяці тому

    I watch this and myself when I see the pieces of art, I don't see Jean-Léon Gérôme's paintings as a expression of love for his own art, but an envy of that kind of love, he wanted to love his art in the same way, but couldn't, and thus was envious of Pygmalion's love and obsession for his creation, for Galatea

  • @Makkle4000
    @Makkle4000 8 місяців тому +4

    Ive also seen artists fall in love with their own "art" on twitter

  • @MicaFarrierRheayan
    @MicaFarrierRheayan 7 місяців тому

    I love the way you put it in words! 🌼

  • @sundarilamond3071
    @sundarilamond3071 8 місяців тому +1

    I felt the passion in this painting

  • @daviddyephotography
    @daviddyephotography 8 місяців тому

    as always your work is beautiful and breath taking

  • @swordguy1243
    @swordguy1243 8 місяців тому +1

    Gerome is one the greatest unknown painters . I do love me some Jean-Leon Gerome

  • @rbsalmon7895
    @rbsalmon7895 8 місяців тому +3

    Me when I draw my own OC that is the embodiment of my IRL tastes:

  • @superbere
    @superbere 8 місяців тому +1

    Amazing like always! You should have millions of subscribers. Your voice is so soothing and the information is so good and interesting.

  • @Suszsvanajagszs
    @Suszsvanajagszs 7 місяців тому

    The passion and work you put into your videos is truly inspiring, I aspire to be so dedicated and in love with what I do in life as you are. Thank you for helping me rediscover my love for art and the history it holds, the words it speaks to the viewer and the eternal emotion it carries
    Keep up the good work 🤍

  • @MightBeRasor
    @MightBeRasor 8 місяців тому

    Sundays are very difficult to me, but the Canvas video of the week brightens my day.

  • @cgautz
    @cgautz 5 місяців тому +2

    Thanks!

  • @lindanorris2455
    @lindanorris2455 2 місяці тому

    gorgeous!

  • @angelajsacaartistaffiliatedwpl
    @angelajsacaartistaffiliatedwpl 8 місяців тому

    Beautiful sculptures

  • @eve_______
    @eve_______ 8 місяців тому +6

    Basically an incel wishing his waifu was real, apparently the best new is forgotten old.

  • @CrownMooseCostumes
    @CrownMooseCostumes 7 місяців тому

    Facinating! I was waiting on an explanation for the 2 heads with their mouths open directly below the cherub.

  • @Jobe-13
    @Jobe-13 7 місяців тому

    So cool how he showed Galetea turning from a marble sculpture to a person.

  • @sylvainst-pierre8725
    @sylvainst-pierre8725 8 місяців тому

    Beautifuly explained. Thank you

  • @offbeatninja
    @offbeatninja 8 місяців тому

    This is truly a good way to start the first of the month.

  • @dianecostanza
    @dianecostanza 8 місяців тому

    I have this painting on your thumbnail hanging in my master bedroom. I fell in love with it immediately. Thank you for your great analysis.

  • @SikandarKashfi
    @SikandarKashfi 8 місяців тому +2

    What a master class painting, ❤

  • @1deplatt
    @1deplatt 8 місяців тому +2

    You can see this painting at The Met in NYC if you’re so inclined

  • @katyb3869
    @katyb3869 8 місяців тому

    So beautiful

  • @davehud2552
    @davehud2552 8 місяців тому +4

    Isn't it common for an artist to fall in love with his art🤨, or a character he drew. Draw because I like it" that is the start of drawing

  • @neilthomas8258
    @neilthomas8258 8 місяців тому

    Beautiful.

  • @sigilsmistakes5000
    @sigilsmistakes5000 8 місяців тому +82

    Poor galatea, trapped with a raging misogynist who is conviced she literally owes him the air she breathes.

    • @vklnew9824
      @vklnew9824 8 місяців тому

      You bp are subversive

    • @jakeleo4518
      @jakeleo4518 7 місяців тому +1

      He sculpted her 💀the "misogynist" is just one variation of the story, its just a hunk of stone and marble, people making this way to weird. Bro just said "I hate women so much so Ima just make my own" 😂

  • @stifledvoice
    @stifledvoice 8 місяців тому +13

    As an "artist" who has eventually hated everything I ever made (you know, because of the way the vision and idea never materialize into the final art form), I could never relate to Pygmalion. I was going to mention that loving your own artwork seems akin to lonely masturbation, but that feels inappropriate and I don't know why.

    • @ahobimo732
      @ahobimo732 8 місяців тому +4

      I don't think it's inappropriate at all. I think it's insightful. Pygmalion retreated from the real world (real women) into an idealized fantasy. There is also a related feminist critique that you can level at the painting.
      Personally, I feel very ambivalent about the painting and it's theme. The profound love and beauty presented in the painting really resonate with me, but I also recognize that the situation presented is somewhat... concerning, in several respects.

  • @littbitterst2328
    @littbitterst2328 7 місяців тому

    This is amazing....

  • @jcwt_pdx
    @jcwt_pdx 8 місяців тому

    Beautiful art 😍🤩😊

  • @johnonyango3166
    @johnonyango3166 8 місяців тому

    This is pretty cool

  • @DoloresJNurss
    @DoloresJNurss 8 місяців тому +3

    Thank you for introducing me to this amazing artist!

  • @ketamophinadze
    @ketamophinadze 8 місяців тому

    Utterly interesting!

  • @kinglouie1545
    @kinglouie1545 8 місяців тому

    I wish this video lasted longer

  • @jlmenard7688
    @jlmenard7688 7 місяців тому +1

    damn my name is Jean-Léon and you saying my name caught me off guard

  • @ariasmataleno2823
    @ariasmataleno2823 8 місяців тому +1

    i can't tell you how weird it is that this painting is synchronistic to what is going on in my life

  • @morriganwitch
    @morriganwitch 8 місяців тому

    Passion ! Xxx

  • @tectorgorch8698
    @tectorgorch8698 8 місяців тому +3

    What do those masks on the shelf represent?

  • @SmileonSunflower316
    @SmileonSunflower316 8 місяців тому +2

    I felt like that like he did, when I saw a scripture, I really wanted to hug him.

  • @maht0x
    @maht0x 8 місяців тому

    you could imagine the sculpture version as the artist losing himself in the stone completely and entriely

    • @pigcatapult
      @pigcatapult 8 місяців тому

      Lost in the marble sauce

  • @tubsy.
    @tubsy. 8 місяців тому +1

    We must stay focused brothers

  • @sananajam5965
    @sananajam5965 8 місяців тому +1

    beautiful painting. but I think that there is more to the two cadaver heads that you see in the middle ground. wish that would have been talked about too.

  • @RondoRory
    @RondoRory 8 місяців тому +2

    There is a musical artist who is kind of similar to this named Telepath, who smokes DMT to hallucinate so that he can meet this woman, Agia, who he loves and makes music with. You can even see the evolution in his music from his early works from 2013-2015, the first representation of Agia in 2016 with the album "A", and now to making music represented as made by both him and Agia. Incredibly interesting. I will say, his earlier works are much more compelling in sound than the newer works though

    • @Biveyy
      @Biveyy 8 місяців тому

      Oh that’s genuinely so stunning?? Is there anyway you can direct me to their music? I did find the album, however and I might have to agree just a little with the last quote

    • @PaulAllPro
      @PaulAllPro 8 місяців тому

      Interesting indeed

  • @heyfella5217
    @heyfella5217 8 місяців тому +1

    Literally me after drawing my 74829274th picture of Shane from Stardew Valley within a week

  • @kontesha14
    @kontesha14 7 місяців тому

    Artista te medhej ❤❤❤❤❤

  • @baliyae
    @baliyae 8 місяців тому +2

    The movie Mannequin was based on the Pygmalion story.

  • @sufjan.stevens
    @sufjan.stevens 8 місяців тому +2

    was about to sleep, but-

  • @fugoventro9403
    @fugoventro9403 8 місяців тому

    Man was down bad.

  • @mosescamacho1245
    @mosescamacho1245 8 місяців тому

    This guy was ahead of his time lol

  • @RA-nw4ww
    @RA-nw4ww 8 місяців тому

    I watch these vids to lower my bp and it works 👍👍

  • @timeWaster76
    @timeWaster76 7 місяців тому

    An Artist Fell In Love With His Own Art is not unusual

  • @bauketelgenhof4651
    @bauketelgenhof4651 8 місяців тому +1

    What is the name of classical piece that starts playing at 1.43?

  • @bigclitenergy
    @bigclitenergy 8 місяців тому

    he gets itttttt

  • @jeff__w
    @jeff__w 8 місяців тому +1

    “cherub” 2:36 The word in English is pronounced with a _ch_ /tʃ/ sound (or _tch_ in French), not like the French word _chérubin._

  • @IndieGuvenc
    @IndieGuvenc 7 місяців тому +1

    so what's the half human half statue woman mean, any theories?

  • @SolracNexus
    @SolracNexus 8 місяців тому +2

    So you're telling me that the rent-a-girlfriend author is gonna be a historical icon in the future?

  • @cuevas8405
    @cuevas8405 8 місяців тому +2

    Waifus existed even in ancient times

  • @ghostsghoul
    @ghostsghoul 7 місяців тому

    guys i think he loves his art

    • @kileaa
      @kileaa 7 місяців тому

      HELP

    • @sownlengoc
      @sownlengoc 7 місяців тому

      sounds like he falls in love with his own daughter

  • @archaic1
    @archaic1 8 місяців тому

    wow

  • @EffySalcedo
    @EffySalcedo 8 місяців тому +1

    This dude is so saaadddd😢

  • @JCarrera27
    @JCarrera27 8 місяців тому

    🖤👏

  • @Hmmmmmmmmm....
    @Hmmmmmmmmm.... 7 місяців тому

    SHIVERRRSSSSSS

  • @ijlosito
    @ijlosito 8 місяців тому

    Wow 🤍

  • @lucaronchetti8324
    @lucaronchetti8324 8 місяців тому

    Where you make research for your video?

  • @HelloImBoni
    @HelloImBoni 7 місяців тому

    whats the artist/painting at 1:31 ??

  • @ConcreteAfterRain
    @ConcreteAfterRain 8 місяців тому

    love the youtube algorithmification of galatea

  • @Synodalian
    @Synodalian 8 місяців тому +7

    _Every hentai artist's dream._

  • @therainbow6467
    @therainbow6467 8 місяців тому

  • @WhatIsMatter101
    @WhatIsMatter101 8 місяців тому

    "Aphrodite, Aphrodite, Aphroditeeeeee!"

  • @degalan2656
    @degalan2656 8 місяців тому

    Never trust someone to judge the art by an artist… there are no experts. Mark Twains most loved book by himself is his best book… period. Critics can argue all they want, but he is the best judge of his own work.

  • @jazmynnrosenbrock8626
    @jazmynnrosenbrock8626 8 місяців тому

    He’s just like hozier