Prometeo 2017

Editor: We're looking at Roberto Ferri's "Prometeo" from 2017, created with oil paint. My first impression is one of intense drama. The chiaroscuro, that contrast between light and shadow, really emphasizes the figure's suffering, don't you think? How do you interpret this work, knowing its title alludes to Prometheus? Curator: Ah, yes. "Prometeo." One sees echoes of Caravaggio, certainly, in the tenebrism – the dramatic lighting you mentioned. But it goes beyond technique. Ferri invites us to ponder the myth, to feel it viscerally. Do you sense the figure's defiance despite his bondage? He strains against the chains, wounded, yet gazing upward. For me, this embodies the eternal struggle for knowledge, the price one pays for challenging the gods, or perhaps, societal norms. Editor: I see that now, especially the upward gaze. But the eroticism is also so apparent and…uncomfortable? Is that intentional, you think? Curator: Precisely! Think about the Baroque period this painting draws from; it loved that tension – the sacred and profane intertwined. Here, Ferri uses the male nude – a staple of classical art – but he also injects it with a raw, almost brutal physicality. That blood isn't just a wound; it's a symbol of sacrifice, but also perhaps, a subtle assertion of self, or freedom. The blood gives life. Ferri asks, doesn't he, what does it mean to be human, bound, suffering, but still striving? What's the nature of knowledge? Is it suffering or freedom? Editor: I never considered that angle! So the eroticism isn't just... decoration, but part of this deeper meaning? Curator: Oh, absolutely. It heightens the vulnerability, the humanity of Prometheus. What's more powerful than raw flesh laid bare? He suffers and feels as we do. A painting, like any art, needs to be experienced, interpreted, not simply consumed. That, too, is freedom. Editor: That definitely reframes the piece for me. I see the intentionality behind the choices much clearer now, especially regarding his re-imagining of historical techniques. Thanks so much for sharing your insight! Curator: My pleasure, these interpretations will morph as new insights emerge!