"Esto Es Lo Peor" by Francisco Goya

One of many prints in the series called The Disasters of War which were 82 prints created between 1810 and 1820 (Schikel, 137). These paintings were a protest to the violence between Napolean's army and Spain (Schikel, 138). A bit more context here, please. 

Stylistically, this print shows a wolf writing orders on a scroll being assisted by a friar. The two are giving orders to a line of suffering people. This print signifies not only the immense corruption in the church at the time but also the betrayal of the people of Spain. It shows the irony of the church turning away the people that believed in it and helping the enemy. The wolf signifies the turmoil and ruthless government that would not allow a constitution in the people’s favor (Schikel, 140). 

Thematically, the friar ignoring the starving and suffering people shows the ruthlessness of the time and the betrayal of the people that were faithful to the church. Also the imagery of a wolf to signify the government also capitalizes the betrayal of the people of Spain. The writing one the scroll that the wolf is holding reads "We retched humanity, the fault is yours", this quote shows the outrage and adversity that the people of Spain felt after the war (Schikel, 140).

"Are We Betraying the Planet?" By Shepard Fairey

One of the many propaganda pieces done by renowned street artist Shepard Fairey shows a women covering her face with a newspaper that reads "Are We Betraying the Planet". This piece has been seen in many places such as New York and Cincinnati ("Obey Giant"). This piece is very detailed and even shows the front page of the newspaper. This newspaper talks about the effect of global warming and even if there is such thing as the climate change. 

Stylistically, this piece of propaganda shows a woman covering her face except for her mouth which shows that this subject of global warming is one that people do not always see clearly or understand fully yet always talk about freely. The script on the newspaper reads that the solar and wind energy could be the path to  "independence" from fossil fuels and exports from the United States. This pairing also bucks the conservative view by making fun of other conservative views such as birth control and intelligent design. 

Thematically, the "blind" woman also signifies society’s betrayal of the earth by not paying much attention to the problem and "covering their eyes" or turning away from a problem that seems impossible to solve. Also the criticism of right wing opinion shows that only is this piece liberal but could also show the betrayal of people towards science and not accepting the facts. 

"A Betrayal Story" by Faile

This piece made up torn paste-ups is part up the "Lost in Glimmering Shadows" Gallery done in 2006 by the street artist collaboration name Faile. This piece is part of a gallery that has the main theme of loss of culture of the American southwest and the combination of Native American figures and pulp fiction images that showed the contradiction and betrayal of tradition in America ("Faile"). 

            Stylistically, this piece shows a kachina figure ,which was a Native American figure used in cosmology and religious practices, mixed with pulp fiction ads that read "a betrayal story". The contrast between the traditional and the new shows betrayal of old culture and the replacing of the traditions with the media. This is shown by the cartoon woman holding on to the kachina dressed in a suit. The aspect of the kachina dressed in a suit shows the traditional customs being masked with new and the woman personifies the media clinging on and dragging the old customs out.

            Thematically, this shows the betrayal of the people of their old customs and the fact that they are masking them with new things thru the persuasion of the media. This piece was one of the many that Faile used to show their southwest roots but also to show the hyper commercialized society that we are living in today.

"Kiss of Judas" by Giotto

This fresco painted by Giotto around 1304 ("Giotto: Judas Kiss") is a very famous bible story that is about the betrayal of Jesus Christ by his disciple Judas. This painting tells the story about how on the night of the last supper Jesus told his disciples that one of them would betray him. Judas then went out to find the temple officers and Pharisees to let them know where Jesus would be going. Judas then told them that he pointed out Jesus by kissing him ("The Last Supper").

Stylistically, this painting shows betrayal because the focus of the painting is  Judas's kiss; also the turmoil that is surrounded by this kiss shows the internal turmoil that betrayal can cause someone. This painting shows a more violent approach to betrayal due to the images of clubs, fire, and other weapons. The mob scene creates more violent movement with people shoving and others being restrained as seen with the two figures in the far left. 

Thematically, this fresco shows betrayal to a friend and the violent internal and external turmoil that it may cause. Jesus was Judas's teacher and friend and his betrayal helped aid the capture and then following death of Jesus. Similar to Munch's painting this also shows a biblical reference. 

"Jealousy" by Edvard Munch

Jealousy made in 1895 by Edvard Munch is a narrative based painting that tells the story about a love triangle involving Munch, as himself; Strindberg, one of Munch’s colleagues; and Dagny, the woman both of them were competing for. Strindberg was a Swedish refugee that Munch met in 1892 and the two became very close friends due to their mutual love of painting. The two intellectually collaborated and shared different insights on how they painted different subjects. Both were jealous of each other not only for their talent in painting but also with their affiliations with Dagny.  They then decided to collaborate and paint the same theme which was appropriately, jealousy (Prideaux,141) . 

Stylistically, this painting does show jealousy and betrayal in its purest form. Munch painted the woman Dagny under the Edenesque tree wearing a red robe. The bright red color on her robe signifies the soiling of purity and sin; the ability to see her nakedness under her robe shows the exposure of the bare truth under her lies. Munch also paints himself with Dagny under the tree and in the foreground he has painted Staczu Prybyszewski, Dagny’s former husband, twisted in jealousy (Prideaux, 147). 

Thematically, this painting does show betrayal in not only the details of the painting but also the story behind it. Munch portrays Dagny under what is a symbol for the garden of Eden which shows a reference to the betrayal of Adam and Eve towards God. Also the discomfort in her former lovers face shows the hurt that betrayal can cause. 

Betrayal Collage

Bibliography

Prideaux, Sue. Edvard Munch: Behind the Scream. First Edition. Yale University, 2005. Print.

Schickel, Richard. The World of Goya. New York. Time-Life Books, 1968.Print.

"Faile (artist Collective)." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 30 Apr. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faile_(artist_collective)>. 

"Giotto: Judas' Kiss." Art and the Bible - Artbible.info. Web. 27 Apr. 2011. <http://www.artbible.info/art/large/405.html>.

Fairey, Shepard. "Are We Betraying The Planet? - OBEY GIANT." OBEY GIANT - WORLDWIDE PROPAGANDA DELIVERY. Web. 28 Apr. 2011. <http://obeygiant.com/sightings/are-we-betraying-the-planet>.