For the _Dying Gladiator_ or _Dying Alexander_ red is preferred. It,
however, as do all the other colors, often produces an overbalance
in the whole situation. Here it suggests no conflicting feelings. It
adds--often too much--to the hopelessness of the situation, and gives
to them an exaggerated solemnity and resignation, which emphasizes
a melancholy cast, not altogether called for. Green and yellow are
always incongruous. They tend to distract the attention to certain
particular muscles, thereby lessening the whole general effect. The
little "prettiness" they still retain is not called for, and is not "of
the right sort." They do not allow one to be sufficiently contemplative
or thoughtful. They have little depth, and cause inharmonious bodily
commotions, and too much intensify the life-struggle and anguish.
The general effect of the statues here is much like that of the simple
forms above. Both not only call for something to be done by the
subject, but some action more or less already definitely outlined.
The Einfühlung for little wooden figures, such as cones, columns,
pyramids, etc., was clear and decided. The tipping character or the
straight erectness caused a feeling which seemed describable in terms
of the way in which the bodily position, as one naturally adapted
himself to the object, took place. Statues afford richer experiences,
but the principle is not different. They seem full of suggestions of
abstractions, such as strength, wisdom, grace, beauty, power, and, in
general, what are often called spiritual feelings. These are not so
easily imitated in detail. Subjects have their own ways of adapting
themselves. They want to carry out the suggestion or impulse in their
own way. These impulses are projected into the figure, and all of the
vigor inhibited in one's own body becomes a living part of the figure.
The impulses thus from the colors may or may not be of such a character
as to bring about the same proportionate adjustment as a desirable
intensification equally of all the feeling-elements. Whether desirable
or not, however, these feeling-combinations furnish additional
illustrations of the various mutual relations of coexisting feelings.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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