The Fallen Angel

I'm sure everyone has a memory of a moment in their life when they experienced disappointment or letdown. In my perspective, the angel we know as the "Fallen Angel" represents these emotions.

The Fallen Angel was created by Alexandre Cabanel in 1847. At the time of its creation, Cabanel had not yet been accepted as a member of the institute, leading to significant criticism from the art community. The painting, which included the theme of "Devil" shocked the jury members, as no student had ever created a painting depicting the devil before. However, like many other artworks, it gained recognition in the years following its creation. What makes this painting so significant?

It is known that the Fallen Angel represents Lucifer, who was cast out of heaven for rebelling against God. The concept of the Devil is generally associated with the symbol of all conceivable evils. However, in my opinion, the Fallen Angel painting reveals something different from the conventional portrayal of the "Devil" that we are familiar with. While we might think of the Devil as a being filled with pure anger and resentment for being expelled from heaven, this painting suggests that it harbors various emotions.

It is often said that the eyes cannot lie and are the mirror of the soul. In this painting, Lucifer's eyes immediately capture attention. While it's easy to observe the anger in his eyes, what particularly struck me was the presence of disappointment alongside that anger. In fact, the painting conveys emotions such as shame, ego, disappointment, anger, and a sense of being an outcast through tearful eyes. However, the most impactful aspect for me is the sense of disappointment. It felt as if, for a moment, Lucifer experienced a reaction similar to the blow he received from someone he trusted and would rely on, no matter what.

It's like a rebellion against hasty judgment and accusations, much like the feeling of disappointment a child experiences when their father shows distrust. It's both the hurt of a child who has been excluded and scolded by their father and the determination of someone who has decided to seek revenge. It's like someone who hasn't put all these emotions into words but finally expresses them through tears.

Can a devil really harbor such emotions? In my opinion, it can. We often judge the devil based on the label of "devil" without remembering that it is also an angel. Similar to our judgments of others based on their current actions or words, we tend to forget the details of why they have reached this point or what they have truly experienced. This is precisely where I understand why this painting affects me. It serves as a mirror reflecting humanity and what it means to be human.

Isn't it ironic that a painting representing the word "devil," which we use to describe all things evil, tells us so much about ourselves?

We should ask ourselves: "Is it the devil pushing me into sin, or am I using the devil as an excuse to do what I actually desire?"

References:

https://arthistoryproject.com/artists/alexandre-cabanel/fallen-angel/

https://mydailyartdisplay.wordpress.com/tag/the-fallen-angel-by-alexandre-cabanel/

https://www.tarihlisanat.com/alexandre-cabanel-dusmus-melek/