The artwork, titled “Man Bitten by a Snake,” was created by Odd Nerdrum in 1992. It belongs to the Neo-Baroque art movement and is categorized as a symbolic painting.
In the artwork, three nude men are depicted in dramatic poses set against a somber and dark backdrop. The figures are intertwined, with one in a stricken pose, reacting to a snake bite on his lower leg, illustrated by his tense posture and pained expression. The other two figures appear engaged in an interplay of gestures and glances, which adds to the dramatic tension of the scene. The use of chiaroscuro highlights the muscular definition and intense emotions of the figures, reflecting the Neo-Baroque style’s emphasis on dramatic light and shadow contrasts. The symbolic elements in the painting invite contemplation on themes such as suffering, human vulnerability, and existential struggle.
