El Greco (Domenikos Theotokopoulos) – Laocoon National Gallery of Art (Washington)

In El Grecos Laocoön, a dramatic and emotionally charged scene unfolds under a turbulent sky. At the center, Laocoön, a Trojan priest, lies diagonally across the composition, his face contorted in agony as he struggles with a serpent. Beside him, his son is also being attacked by another snake, his body twisted in distress. To the left, a third figure, presumably their other son, is depicted with his arms raised, entangled in a serpent that forms a heart-like shape framing a distant city and landscape. To the right, three nude figures stand, witnessing the tragic event, their expressions largely unreadable, adding to the scenes mystery.
The painting is a highly stylized and spiritual interpretation of the classic myth where Laocoön and his sons are killed by sea serpents sent by the gods for their attempt to warn the Trojans about the Trojan Horse. El Greco infuses the scene with his signature elongated figures, dramatic lighting, and a somber palette. The distorted anatomy and swirling forms convey a sense of intense suffering and divine punishment.
The subtexts of Laocoön are rich and open to interpretation. The suffering of Laocoön and his sons can be seen as a metaphor for the plight of humanity facing overwhelming forces, either divine or earthly. The city framed by the serpent might symbolize Troy, or perhaps a more universal representation of civilization under threat. The presence of the three figures on the right, observing the scene, could represent humanitys detachment or inability to intervene in the face of tragedy, or perhaps even some higher powers. El Greco, a deeply religious artist, may also be alluding to themes of faith, doubt, and the struggle between good and evil, perhaps even commenting on the religious and political turmoil of his own time. The overall atmosphere of despair and foreboding, combined with the spiritual intensity of the figures, invites contemplation on fate, free will, and the human condition.