Symbolism in Western Paintings: A Case Study of The Arnolfini Portrait

Abstract

The Arnolfini Portrait is an oil painting on an oak panel created by Netherlandish painter Jan van Eyck in 1434, an artwork known for its multidirectional interpretation. The symbolism is open to interpretation, and the identity of the Arnolfini is still disputed. This article focuses on the discussion of the existing research and controversies about this artwork. It has a far-reaching significance for the interpretation of the symbolic meaning of the images in artworks; it is mainly devoted to the symbolic significance of the images in The Arnolfini Portrait with document analysis, searching, and reading the relevant prior materials and documents. The advantage of this method is that it enables the analysis of the detailed features present in the artwork, which is conducive to the study. The goal of this study is to analyze and summarize the interpretation of the images in The Arnolfini Portrait. To achieve this goal, tracing and sorting the existing popular theories is made. The artwork itself is only an item, and its value comes from its aesthetic means and artistic techniques, or the cultural, social, and ideological situation behind it.