A Study On The Evolution Of The Theme Of Narcissus In Western Art

Narcissus is a figure in Greek mythological, and also a figure who does the western artists to expressed and depicted over and over again. In the context of western art, the theme of Narcissus’evolution always presented by his own chara cter. The theme of Narcissus’ evolution always presented by changing his characte r.The image of Narcissus has several transformation in western art history, and ful lof Culture connotation. First, it experienced a process of "Idealized-Personal co mparison-Alienation-Deconstruction". Second, it experienced a process of "Male subject-Gender confusion-Female subject-Fuzzy gender".This paper catch the clue of the changing image of Narcissus, then select Po ussin’s, Caravaggio’s, Balthus’ and Dali’s Narcissus theme painting as a node, and put them in the context of different cultural background and different historical b ackground. Meanwhile, based on the research findings in philosophy and psycholo gy, and combined with the mentality of the painters in the creation to make a co ncrete analysis of Narcissus’ transformation. Above all, to sum up the thread and the reason of evolution.This paper attempts to combine psychoanalysis with paint ings,in aim to elucidate the rationalism of Greek myth and the revealing of weste rn art by "being here" God. I hope that to further clarify the western art spirit a nd the spirit of the times through the study on the evolution of Narcissus. This i snot only be of great advantage for more in-depth understanding of Western art,bu talso has more important realistic meaning today.