This amazing painting (and popular print) is of a fictional murder scene - "Murder in the House" (1890). The artist shows us the bloody death of a young woman in a downtrodden corner of Prague. Throughout the scene are #clews for the armchair psychologists to mull. Can you solve this woman's mysterious murder?
This amazing work of art comes from the mind of artist Jakub Schikaneder (Wiki). The painting is now at the National Gallery in Prague and is also a popular murder poster.
There appear to be eleven people in this painting, including the victim. The clews are in their clothing, body language and expressions, and in the details of the setting.
It has been discerned that the artist painted Spitalska Street in Prague - the poor district. We see hints of struggle in for example the deteriorating roof of the mud room on the left, the broken window pane, and the broken boards on the right. The victim is dressed for chores, with her sleeves rolled up. She wears no jewelry. She seems to be gesturing. Her right shoulder seems to be off the ground, as though she is trying to lift her arm. And the direction she seems to point is at the man who is talking.
The man in dark clothing is talking and pointing to the woman's body. He leans forward, as though he is trying to catch the eye of the person he is addressing. His right hand is open and his palm is upwards, as though to show his empty dominant hand, and there is something supplicating in that gesture as well. His eyebrows are raised. He is asking to be believed.
The man he is addressing wears a work apron; he has been interrupted. He is not looking at the speaker. He is staring at the body. Is he avoiding the eye of the man doing the talking? Others are listening to this talking man with various expressions. Does the talking man know the victim? If so, why is he not more upset?
The most interesting figure is the woman on the far left. She looks down, her face dark., her hands hidden, seemingly lost in thought. What is she thinking?
For more: Analysis of Murder in the House, via Reddit - Analysis of Murder in the House by Tom Kwei
#murderinthehouse #jakubschikaneder #JakubaSchikanedera #Praha #Vraždavdomě #truecrime #clews
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