Very interesting, Ulrike.
But if the story explains it -- why would it only be a problem in English and
not German as well?? Unless the misnomer IS the "puzzle" of the story [and
Holly's little puzzle for us!] So there is probably some kind of intrinsic
puzzle here -- maybe nonclamenture -- maybe more philosophical...
I hadn't read the bottom when I first looked at it.
The writers seem to think the Fable is intrinsic to the "puzzle" that is --
there is a concealed mythological theme described as the contrast between the
backgound & foreground ... "The background of the workroom is where the plot
of the fable is developed; while in the foreground the workroom activity is
portrayed."
So what does that mean??? (So how to unravel a convoluted thread...)
Well I'm called a "weaver", but really I'm a spinner...(see previous post!)
----------------------------
My interpretation of the philosophical puzzle:
Recalling in Greek lore that Necessity (the mother of the fates (past present
future) has the spindle on her knee and spins ... destiny. ie It is the
Spinner who holds the power of Destiny...
Destiny is what is here contrasted both in the myth [ie. what happens to
Arachne] and in the contrast between the rich and poor in the picture [ie the
theme] (This is an old trick of Plato -- to contrast appearance and reality)
The powerful rich are portrayed in the background with the woven tapestry.
But the makers are the spinners, despite the appearance. So the nonclamenture
is deliberate. The weaver's plot here is to conceal that the spinner
(including Arachne) holds the power of her own destiny not the Goddess who
apparently put her there.
So what do you make of it Holly??
Dianne
Hi Holly,
I think the Problem is, that Velasquez called the picture: "La Fabula de
Aracné" ("The Story of Arachne" you know about Arachne who was a better spinner
than Athene and was transformed into a spider by the wrath of the Goddess) and
someone in the meantime made the mistake to misnomed it "The Weavers".
BTW in German it is called "Die Spinnerinnen" ("The Spinners")
best wishes
Ulrike from Germany
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