The Non-Existent Mirage: An Aesthetic Study OF Donna Tartt’s The Goldfinch

Abstract

The interplay between literature and visual art has long been a subject of fascination, offering a rich terrain for exploring the intersection of creativity, emotion and interpretation. Donna Tartt’s critically acclaimed novel, The Goldfinch deals with the world of art that encompasses Fabritius’ masterpiece painting “The Goldfinch”. The paper employs an interdisciplinary approach to present a new aesthetic encounter for readers, where the realm of visual art is reimagined through the lens of literature. Contrary to traditional cognitivist art theories that often emphasize detached cognitive responses, the paper contends that emotions in art exert a profound influence on individuals. By merging visual art and literature, Donna Tartt’s novel bridges the gap between these two mediums and aims to unveil the uncharted territory of emotional resonance. The paper entitled, “The Non-Existent Mirage: An Aesthetic Study of Donna Tartt’s The Goldfinch” investigates the recurrence of aesthetic emotions, identifies contributing factors and explores the stimuli that evoke ekphrasis, showcasing the intricate connections between visual arts and literary expression. This study sheds light on Liliane Louvel’s theorising about verbal and visual discourses and meanders through various facets of Louvel’s notion of the iconotext and her typology of pictorial saturation to highlight the emphasis given to visual representations in The Goldfinch. Moreover, it leans on Norman Bryson’s examination of still life painting and on the critical theories of art to evince the aesthetic attributes rendered in Fabritius’ “The Goldfinch”.