No matter the cost, no matter the sacrifice, to save a doomed world.
Or, to quote my favourite game of all time, "No cost too great."
Pastiche of Judith II by Gustav Klimt
Judith II is a very interesting painting, especially paired with its first counterpart. The focus on the character of Judith and not her act (beheading the man she just seduced to save her people), in the first painting we look at a seductive sight, while the second shows harsher traits, a resolve and determination that displays the unwavering goal to protect her people.
Madara was interesting to put here, for me, because, on one hand, the Uchiha have this whole "seductive and attractive" thing with them, something we especially see with Sasuke and how he is treated, and that can link back to their kekkei genkai as well. They are sought after like prizes, for their looks, for their eyes, hunted and seen more as objects than people.
Of course, the context is very different there from the original story of Judith, but it's really the intent I wanted to focus on, the whole atmosphere of the painting and how decisive she looked.
Madara doing unspeakable act to achieve his goals is nothing new, and I don't think it's something that only came with his madness after Izuna's death, although it was probably magnified. In the name of his clan and those he loves, Madara is able to go very far, and when he finds himself convinced he has a way to achieve peace, he runs with it and ignores the consequences of his own actions.
So he even defiles Hashirama's legacy, his own body turned against him and his ideals. It is betrayal, and I enjoyed having hints of both his and Hashirama's treachery towards one another.
Madara's wound, Hashirama's ultimate choice to abandon him and detach him from their shared dream (this is not to argue whether or not he was right in doing so, but the nature of this act. Even if it was justified (and I believe, to some extent, it was), it is betrayal), with flowers blooming from it (forget me not, the name was one of the reason, the second was that, in Japanese flower language, they signify true love). On the other hand, Hashirama's head, Madara's own prize from their encounter, his cells his power, a key to his dream, but a stab in the back to Hashirama, to use his own body in such a way (hmmm... they are so toxic)
Hashirama is peaceful, dead, Madara is determined and still going, fire and destruction behind him, a trail of blood at his feet, but remaining unbothered. Spider lilies are a last touch, they are often linked to death and rebirth in Japan, but also reflect abandonment.
Madara is someone who tries to walk forward while unable to move on or heal, forever stuck as he tries to save and protect while destroying what is dearest to him in the end.
Tragic character, I love him so much.
(here are the sketches)
