The song that kills (1908)
Technique: Giclée quality print
Recommended by our customers
More about this artwork
"The Song that Kills," an evocative painting from 1908 by Udo Keppler, captures a vivid and symbolic moment expressed through art. This artwork depicts a mythological scene where a female figure, reminiscent of a siren or muse, plays a large lyre amidst a turbulent seascape. The woman, draped in a flowing yellow garment, emanates an aura of melancholy and power as she sits perched on a rocky outcrop.The atmosphere in the painting is charged with a dynamic interplay of movement and emotion, underscored by the roaring waves and stormy skies. Symbols and text, such as "Stock Gambling" and "Margin Gambling," are inscribed on the rocks and swirl around in the mist, suggesting the painting's commentary on the perils and seductive nature of financial speculation during that era.Keppler uses a cool palette of blues and greys, juxtaposed with the warm yellows of the figure’s garment, to enhance the dramatic impact of the scene. This artwork not only showcases Keppler's skill in composition and color but also serves as a poignant allegorical critique of early 20th-century economic practices.
Delivery
Returns
Udo J. Keppler, since 1894. known as Joseph Keppler, Jr., was an American political cartoonist, publisher, and Native American advocate. The son of cartoonist Joseph Keppler (1838–1894), who founded Puck magazine, the younger Keppler also contributed to cartoons, and after his father's death became co-owner of the magazine under the name Joseph Keppler. He was also a collector of Native American artifacts.