Arturas Smalenskas - Papá Goriot

The work Papá Goriot presents a visual reinterpretation of the character created by Honoré de Balzac, using a language akin to Cubism and Expressionism. The protagonist's fragmented face symbolizes the physical and moral disintegration caused by the extreme sacrifice he makes for his daughters.
The blue eye, a central element, concentrates the artwork's emotional load and acts as a witness to abandonment and loneliness. The arid background and symbolic objects, such as the cross, reinforce the idea of sacrifice and martyrdom.
The painting engages with Balzac's social critique, portraying Father Goriot as a victim of a materialistic society that destroys authentic emotional bonds.