Pictorial textuality : the imaginative reading of pictures

Abstract

The notion of multiple, concurrent readings is used to explore the status of pictorial textuality as a model for the art of painting. Being encapsulations of materiality, visuality, artefactuality and narrativity, paintings require distinct modes and levels of reading. The value of the model is tested with reference to an extreme case of reading - Antonin Artaud's gnostic interpretation of a sixteenth century painting of "Lot and his daughters".Die idee van meerdere gelyklopende lesings word gebruik om die status van pikturale tekstualiteit as 'n model vir die skilderkuns te ontleed. Synde enkapsulerings van materialiteit, visualiteit, artefaktualiteit en narrativiteit verlang skilderye verskillende vlakke en wyses van lesing. Die bruikbaarheid van die model word getoets aan die hand van 'n buitengewone lesing - van Antonin Artaud se gnostiese interpretasie van 'n sestiende-eeuse skildering van "Lot en sy dogters".