After watching the moving 9/11 Memorial Service at the old World Trade Center site, I hesitated posting this Pomegranate Half painting since it felt a bit frivolous. Upon further reflection and a little research, I changed my mind.
“Pomegranate Half” by Beverly Shipko, Oil on cradled wood panel, 6 x 6 inches
The pomegranate has significant meaning in many world religions, both in the written word and in cultural traditions, relating to its most salient physical property – seeds, and lots of them, as you can see here.
According to Wikipedia and other sources, the ancient Egyptians regarded the pomegranate as a symbol of prosperity and ambition. In Greece, the pomegranate was seen by many as a symbol of life, marriage and rebirth as it pertains to the abduction story of Persephone by Hades, the god of the underworld.
Pomegranates were known in Ancient Israel as the fruits that were brought to Moses to show the fertility of the “promised land”. The pomegranate was the symbol of fertility in ancient Persian culture. Throughout the Christian world, it’s regarded as a symbol of life. Today, the pomegranate is regarded as a fruit with potential health benefits from its nutrients and phytochemicals.
Whatever the context, the pomegranate seems to be a powerful symbol of life, abundance and fertility (sounds a bit like my double yolk eggs.) And for that reason, I believe it’s most appropriate to post this painting on 9/11 to commemorate the lives that have been lost, and the resilience of the living. That point was driven home today as we listened to stories from survivors and family members who have moved on, but who will never forget those who perished. Over and over, they repeated that they hoped their loved ones would be proud of the people they have become, and the lives they are living.
And so today I dedicate this painting to life.
I love these posts on a painting a day, and reading about your thinking.
Making a small -inch or 2- cut in a whole pomegranate, just deep enough to get through the skin, and then tearing the fruit open with your hands leaves interesting jagged edges, and is as a bonus less messy, since you don’t cut through many seeds–less sprayed juice.
Thanks, Leslie. I’m so glad you’re enjoying the posts. And I appreciate the tip. I actually have 3 more untouched pomegranates in the kitchen, and I was undecided about my strategy to get the jagged edges. Now I have a plan. It’s as if you read my mind!
Enjoying your painting and posts too!
I can’t write by the time I reach home with the completed painting. But you inspired me.
Manisha, you just made my day! It certainly is a time management challenge to finish a painting each day and then blog about it. It’s getting tough this week because I have other commitments, but you have inspired me to keep at it. So I thank you for that.