In Fra Angelico and Fra Filippo Lippi
‘s The Adoration of the Magi, 1440/1460, light framed in an arch on the upper left serves to echo the light of the event, central to Christians.
The Annunciation, 1898, by Henry Ossawa Tanner, deals with the strangeness of the moment – an angel visiting a girl to announce her future – by turning the Angel Gabriel into a column of light.
In Lead Pencil‘s Adoration Turning Yellow from 2008, Gabriel is worse for wear. Not only is he no longer the light source, he’s making a mess.
I think it’s possible that the adoration is abstract, that the shot-wad yellow on the right “adores” the blank white on the left.
Yes, Susanne, I do too. Allusions are suggestions, open to other suggestions. Few artists mean just one thing, unless stripping down to one thing is the intention.
As long as meaning can be randomly assigned to any art work (That is what you’re saying, right, Regina?), I’m going to call this piece Piss On the Window. Crazy, you say? No more crazy than bringing up the Angel Gabriel. Oh, and, Susanne. If you’re not an art critic, consider it. The field needs more sane people.