After studying some vanitas paintings by Dutch painters from the 16-17th centuries, It occurred to me that the spirit of this genre could help me capture the feel I wanted for “Hubris”. Vanitas paintings are rich in symbolism and are generally dark both in color and message. Shadows present in the paintings tend to be pronounced and complement the darkness. Dark times demand dark art.
Hubris (/ˈhjuːbrɪs/; describes a personality quality of extreme or excessive pride or dangerous overconfidence and complacency, often in combination with (or synonymous with) arrogance. Additionally, the presence of a cadre of supporting sycophants often results in a departure from reality and in turn clouded judgement.