In Eris at Play, Gregory Kitterle explores the intersection of mythology, human interaction, and surreal imagery using oil and plaster on canvas. The composition is dominated by a large dark vertical structure on the right, contrasted by a bright white circular form behind it, evoking a spotlight or moonlit scene. At the center, a red line runs diagonally, holding a suspended golden apple—a reference to the Greek mythological figure Eris, the goddess of strife and discord, who famously used a golden apple to incite conflict among the gods.
The lower section features two figures engaged in an intimate, somewhat conspiratorial conversation, their expressions and postures rendered in rough, earthy tones. Their presence contrasts with the tension created by the vertical and diagonal lines, adding a layer of intrigue and potential conflict. The textured surface, created by the combination of oil and plaster, gives the painting a tactile, almost worn quality, adding to its sense of narrative depth.
Kitterle’s exploration of mythological symbolism, especially through the golden apple, draws on the tension between the divine and the human, but it is conveyed with a distinct materiality that brings the myth down to a more grounded, human level. Instead of focusing solely on the mythological reference, Kitterle combines it with a human interaction that feels deeply personal, with a whisper of potential discord between the figures. The apple, traditionally a symbol of temptation or conflict, hangs delicately, suggesting its potential chaos is imminent but not yet realized.
The title Eris at Play highlights the underlying theme of mischief and potential conflict, embodied both in the mythological reference and the interaction between the two figures. The dark vertical structure, juxtaposed with the glowing white background, creates a visual boundary that, much like Eris’s apple, divides and connects at the same time. Kitterle’s use of plaster adds a layer of roughness to the surface, as though the figures and scene have been etched into the canvas, reinforcing the idea of myth as both timeless and weathered by history
