Poe “The Raven” by David Eppelheimer

Walter N. Marks Center for the Arts

Student Exhibition: April 9, 2008

1. Description

This vertical framed portrait of Edgar Allen Poe (22.5” X 30.5” oil/acrylic) includes a taxidermied black bird perched on the frame. Two life-sized modeled and clothed arms extend from the portrait; one arm is vertical, hand up toward the chin, index finger extended just under the mouth, and the other arm extends horizontally, hand extended holding a book.

The work is mostly black and white with some grey tones. The paint was applied thickly, almost sculpting the image in places.

2. Analysis

In the original poem, the protagonist reads a book to overcome the loss of his beloved Lenore. A raven alights on a statue; it quaffs “Nevermore.” Poe’s imagination runs wild. The painting reflects Poe(etic) macabre iconology with its “Raven” (actually, this specimen is an artistically licensed crow) and dark colors. Poe appears to “shush” the Raven, or perhaps he self consciously doesn’t want the observer to reveal his “secret.” It’s not clear why Poe holds a book of his own writings, perhaps he’s acting out his poem. And the painting’s asking price of $763 defies my analysis, except that Poe wrote about madness in The Tell Tale Heart containing 763 words. Other possibilities: 1) Minnesota area code, 2) number of acts in the South by Southwest Music Festival, and 3) the Boeing 763.

3. Interpretation

Clever and self-referential, this conceptual work teases lingua arte with arte lingua; both share the same title and themes. Art imitating art. It captures mood, motion, and artistic juxtaposition. But the mystery remains: where does Poe end and Eppelheimer begin and where does Eppelheimer end and Poe begin?