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[[File:Thetriumphofdeath.jpg|left]]In contrast to the cubist/modernist approach, which renders truth from varying yet stark perspectives, the cover image of Penguin Classic's reprinting of "The Waste Land" incorporates Pieter Bruegel's "The Triumph of Death" on its book cover. The differences between Delaunay's and Bruegel's paintings are remarkably different, though Bruegel's work does not inherently controvert textual content. The editor's choice to use Bruegel's painting to market "The Waste Land" is obviously influenced by themes consistent with the poem. However, when comparing the work of Delaunay and Bruegel it becomes apparent that the editorial choice concerning which image to use reflects strongly on the editor's perception of the poem. For instance, though Delaunay's work is not "true to life," it does maintain sufficient pragmatism to assure a level of certainty for the viewer. In "The Triumph of Death" the image is so absurd, filled with ambiguous yet disturbing symbology, that the viewer is left disoriented and perhaps disenchanted before he or she has considered the text within. | [[File:Thetriumphofdeath.jpg|left]]In contrast to the cubist/modernist approach, which renders truth from varying yet stark perspectives, the cover image of Penguin Classic's reprinting of "The Waste Land" incorporates Pieter Bruegel's "The Triumph of Death" on its book cover. The differences between Delaunay's and Bruegel's paintings are remarkably different, though Bruegel's work does not inherently controvert textual content. The editor's choice to use Bruegel's painting to market "The Waste Land" is obviously influenced by themes consistent with the poem. However, when comparing the work of Delaunay and Bruegel it becomes apparent that the editorial choice concerning which image to use reflects strongly on the editor's perception of the poem. For instance, though Delaunay's work is not "true to life," it does maintain sufficient pragmatism to assure a level of certainty for the viewer. In "The Triumph of Death" the image is so absurd, filled with ambiguous yet disturbing symbology, that the viewer is left disoriented and perhaps disenchanted before he or she has considered the text within. | ||
| − | Penguin's choice to use Bruegel's painting for its Waste Land cover reveals that | + | Penguin's choice to use Bruegel's painting for its Waste Land cover reveals an editorial perception that death and religion are perhaps the most essential aspects of the poem. Bruegel's painting depicts a battle in which death, personified as a militia of skeletons, overwhelms a force of men. |
