Portrait de James Joyce 1992

This is Eduardo Arroyo’s striking portrait of James Joyce, a symphony of shapes and symbols invoking the essence of the celebrated writer. Joyce's iconic monocle dominates, a singular lens through which he viewed the world, reminiscent of the all-seeing eye found in ancient Egyptian art, representing wisdom and perception. Consider the recurring motif of the gaze, from the Cyclops to the modern intellectual. Here, it is refracted, distorted, challenging our own ways of seeing. Even the small, almost obscured figures lurking behind the subject suggest spies, or watchful figures, embodying a sense of observation. This notion of perpetual surveillance taps into a deep cultural memory. Think of Argus, the hundred-eyed giant, whose gaze was ever vigilant. The monocle, then, becomes not merely a fashion statement, but a symbol of intense scrutiny. It is a cyclical progression, reappearing in various guises, each time imbued with new layers of meaning. This portrait is not just a likeness but a psychological landscape, inviting us to delve into the subconscious currents that shape our perceptions.