Poem Analysis - To A Painter

A Playful Suggestion: Burns' Advice

Robert Burns' "To a Painter" is a short, humorous poem that offers a painter a piece of seemingly simple advice. The poem adopts a lighthearted and conversational tone, reminiscent of a friendly chat between two acquaintances. It begins with a gentle offering of guidance and maintains a playful mood throughout, poking fun at the challenges of portraying virtue versus vice. The poem suggests a subtle critique of artistic endeavors, favoring the familiar and easily depicted over the abstract and idealistic. It ends with a seemingly benign suggestion, but offers a sharp observation about humanity's understanding of good and evil.

Burns' Voice: The Bard of Ayrshire

Robert Burns (1759-1796) was a celebrated Scottish poet and lyricist. His work often reflected his deep connection to Scottish culture and his keen observations of everyday life. Burns was known for his use of Scots dialect, making his poetry accessible and relatable to a broad audience. His poems frequently explored themes of love, nature, social justice, and the human condition. "To a Painter," written in Scots dialect, is a great example of his lighthearted style, as well as the cultural appreciation for candor that he displays in many works.

The Devil and the Details: Exploring Familiarity

One of the central themes is the ease of depicting evil compared to good. The poem suggests that painting an angel is a "kittle wark" (difficult task), while painting the Devil presents "little danger." This highlights the idea that evil, or at least the depiction of it, is more readily accessible and understandable to humans. This idea extends into the idea of the familiar and the unfamiliar. The "lang-kent face," associated with the Devil, versus the "stranger" which can be associated with the angel, shows that, perhaps, we are more familiar with the concept of evil and so it is easier to illustrate. The poem is not necessarily promoting evil, but is an acknowledgement of the human condition.

Faces of Good and Evil: Imagery and Symbolism

The poem uses the simple imagery of angels and the Devil to represent good and evil, respectively. These figures serve as symbols for abstract concepts. The "lang-kent face" of the Devil is a particularly striking image, suggesting that evil is not only familiar but also recognizable, almost commonplace. This familiarity makes the Devil an easier subject for the painter. This creates a subtle paradox, as the Devil is considered to be the ultimate evil, but Burns suggests that it is easier to understand and portray. The "stranger" which is associated with the angel, suggests the opposite. The idea that understanding good is more foreign, and therefore, a harder thing to illustrate, shows the nature of humanity.

Final Strokes: A Lasting Impression

"To a Painter" is a brief but insightful poem that uses a humorous and straightforward approach to explore the complexities of good and evil. Burns' suggestion to paint the Devil rather than an angel is not a celebration of wickedness, but a commentary on human understanding and artistic representation. The poem leaves a lasting impression, prompting reflection on why we might find it easier to depict what we know, even if it is something negative, than to capture the essence of abstract and perhaps idealized concepts. Is it that we understand evil better, or are we simply drawn to its dramatic nature?