Sophia Deserto  

Professor Toohey  

ENG 170 – 11  

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Draft  

27 January 2023 

The analysis of the dragonfly  

The painting “The souls fly home” created by an unknown artist reflects the well-known belief that the dragonfly is a representation of the deceased. The artist’s use of dark colors creates a transcendental scene and feeling of tranquility within the observer. 

The unknown artist’s ability to create the spiritual feeling within the painting starts with the use of color scheme. The first layer of black paint across the paper is used to symbolize the night. Over the night sky, dark purple clouds with hints of pink are cast over, as well as a collection of stars scattered across. The use of pinks and purples, rather than the traditional color of the sky, blue, is used purposefully to create feelings of calm and imagination. Blue is instead used slightly in the body of water and waterfall on the left of the painting. The use of purple paint over blue paint in the water and throughout the picture appears to make the scene seem other-worldly, while the blue represents a ‘normal’ or on Earth body of water. I appreciate the way the artist created an ethereal aesthetic, with the use of light colors to portray the sky, the moon casting over the water and the dragonflies flying over the creek.   

Over centuries, the dragonfly has been used as a symbol for death. Dating back to the time of Native Americans, dragonflies were seen as a deceased loved one or a possible guardian angel. The riverbank is seen as a painting within the overall picture. The dragonflies are seen flying from the right side of the painting to the left side, where the riverbank is located. In addition to the dragonfly symbolizing the deceased, there is a myth that explains dragonflies hovering over bodies of water are the dead trying to go back to their home, whether that be back with their family or where they used to live. Female dragonflies lay their eggs in still water. When the eggs hatch, the baby dragonflies live in the water for most of their youth, then remain in the air and on land as adults. The artist paints the dragonflies flying to the water made in the smaller box on the canvas to represent them trying to “fly home”.   

In addition to the artists’ many techniques, the size of the creek where the dragonflies are flying in comparison to the size of the actual canvas is used strategically. I interpreted the size difference of the creek to the overall image in a way that the air in which the dragonflies fly is vast and large, but where they wish to belong is a place that is much smaller and full. While the dragonflies have an entire space to fly and venture where they please, it is empty. Whereas the creek in which they are flying is relatively smaller, indicating a sense of community and normalcy to the dragonflies. As an observer, I personally enjoy how the artist utilized the space given in a way that creates contrast, as well as two different settings. The way the artist creates this contrast between the settings is subtle, but noticeable to the eye.  

Overall, the unknown artists painting “the souls fly home” creates a beautiful image of nature and different life forms representing the deceased. The use of pink and purple hues, painting dragonflies going across the page, and the use of different size settings all come together cohesively to create the overall effect of tranquility and whimsical. The artist’s techniques are used to portray the dragonflies as souls, based on the Native American belief that a dragonfly is the sign of a lost loved one, trying to contact its family, showing safety and a longing to go back where they came from.