What is the meaning of this painting?

[Naranjo]

I bought this painting a while back, and it puzzles me. It's dated 1965, can't find anything about the artist on the internet despite intense googling.

I assume it is a psychedelic trip inspired scene. But then also wonder if it is has some mythological meaning I'm missing. The lion-dog, and the crow, the demon and the flower...they look like they might be referencing something.

Any ideas?

@pepsirolla

I was wondering if it's something to do with the Hesperides. They were Dryads who guarded the golden apples (one of the apples started the Trojan war) maybe that why the tree has a females face? I also vaguely remember a story about a dragon guarding the tree too and Hercules, who wore a lions skin went to get an apple. Also even vaguer memory of story about a Crow in the tree and a golden feather? I had similar pictures in story books in the 60s and 70s lots of trippy artists with Chinese and Indian inspired styles.

I think you might be on to something. I've never heard of them but you're right there's a lot that fits - they are 'evening/sunset' dryads and it's an evening painting, they transform into trees, they sing (the woman has it's mouth open), there's a couple of round shapes that might be apples. There's the lion, and the dragon.

I can't find anything about the crow but with further googling I may do!

@Mykittensmittens

I’m with *@KeflavikAirport*

I studied art history. Board medium, even with oil, wouldn’t be something ‘pro’ it would be good ameteur/hobbiest, although this does have a nice feel.

I am not at all being critical - art is down to who loves it (I love Miro and frankly half of that is completely crackers) but it’s not very refined work. It definitely has influences of Chinese culture (the dog creature, and that on the right hand ‘mountain’), but the colours are more trend worthy for the era painted.

Enjoy it for what it is - I think - a really interesting piece which I am sure the artist would be happy you enjoy so much.

I agree -- I was hoping it would be someone prolific enough, even if little known, that I'd be able to find something about the artist and their subject matter.

It does have a mish-mash feel with the Chinese dog.

I studied Fine Art - not so much Art History though.

Their signature has a Greek E in it as well, maybe they were interested in Greek mythology (Hesperides).

Maybe it was someone's school homework. 'Illustrate a Greek myth'.

This is similar to the story I vaguely remember. Thanks for sharing the painting, I love it, it's is thought provoking.
www.moon-flake.com/en/en-gb-brothers-grimm/adaptations/brothers-grimm/en-gb-the-apple-of-immortality

[quote pepsirolla]This is similar to the story I vaguely remember. Thanks for sharing the painting, I love it, it's is thought provoking.
www.moon-flake.com/en/en-gb-brothers-grimm/adaptations/brothers-grimm/en-gb-the-apple-of-immortality[/quote]
Thanks - that really does bring in the crow as well, doesn't it.

I just had a closer look at the round shape on the tree - it's an orange colour (distinct from the leaves which are mainly pink), so could be a golden apple.

On the amateur angle, the crow's feet, which I just looked at again - I don't think a really inexperienced painter would paint in such a stylised way (unless it was a direct copy from another artist).

I guess I'll never know - though will keep on googling their name periodically to see if anything turns up.