Bergman's Dream
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Commentary
AK has created an homage to one of the undisputed masters of film in the 20th century, Ingmar Bergman. This piece puns on both Wild Strawberries and The Seventh Seal. This critic is not able to comment on these films nearly as clearly and intelligently as Bergman fans, so should you want to know about Wild Strawberries, or learn about The Seventh Seal, click away. As to the image itself, it certainly has a life outside of its cinematic references. A layman looking at this would see Death walking in a strawberry field, stumbling upon a chess board on which a game is being played. The purple sky and pink moon lend an eerie light to the scene. The title tells us this is a dream, so these elements become more symbolic and metaphoric. Bergman dreams of Death, but not in a threatening way, for Death is on a casual stroll, and more importantly has no one to release from their "mortal coil." It is as if we have caught Death on a break. There's a nice garden to walk in, and a game to play should he have the inclination. The enormous red ripeness of the strawberries further lightens the scene, and their vitality seems to cancel out the dark Spectre who walks among them. The final touch of energy are the five stars that twinkle above Death's head, telling us it is night, but not a dark, scary night, but a warm one, perhaps glowing with the rising sun. To a Bergman film, the warm, welcoming night would probably remind them of his comedy Smiles of a Summer Night. Whether we know the films or not, AK is telling us that Bergman is someone who is fascinated with Death, and sees Death as a functional part of life, and that he is comfortable with the relationship. All this is clear in the warm, playful nature of this lyric scene. If you'd like, here is an excellent explanation of Bergman's work, keying on Wild Strawberries
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Image and title "Bergman's Dream" copyright 2000 by the artist