A sculpture with a secret: which side should you look at it from? (3 photos)

An unusual sculpture is located in the Salar Jung Museum in the Indian city of Hyderabad. The author is unknown, although it is believed that he was a French artist of the 19th century. But history has not preserved his name for us.





The peculiarity of the sculpture is that it is made in the form of two characters from a single piece of sycamore wood. Viewers are usually fascinated by the duality of the sculpture. Much depends on which side you first approach the sculpture from.

For reference. Sycamore is a biblical fig tree. A symbol of fertility and blessing, as well as a metaphor for spiritual maturity and signs of the times in the Bible.

If it is Margarita, you will see meekness and tenderness. If it is Mephistopheles, then arrogance and contempt. Walking around the sculpture, the viewer sees another sculpture, and at this moment the author's intention is understood. The contrast between the two states is the main miracle of the sculpture.



Well, if you look closely at the details of the sculpture, then in some sense you comprehend a metaphysical insight. For example, Mephistopheles' hand, hidden behind his back, is simultaneously Margarita's hand, pressed to her stomach. But there is a child conceived from a relationship with Faust.

For reference. Goethe's "Faust" is a tragedy about Doctor Faust, who sells his soul to the devil for knowledge and pleasure, including for the love of Margarita. The work explores the themes of the desire for knowledge, redemption and the tragedy of personal life.

The sculptor placed an unopened tulip in Margarita's hand. This is also an important symbol. An unopened bud means unfulfilled dreams and hopes. After all, Faust fled and left Margarita alone, pregnant.



A mirror was placed next to the statue in the museum so that viewers could see two images at the same time. On the one hand, this is not bad, and also carries a metaphysical connotation, but still, in my opinion, the recognition of the sculptor's intention is lost. You see everything at once, and there are no more mysteries for you.

Too bad.

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