“The Fire Within”- Beethoven

“The Fire Within” Watercolour, pastel and pencil. Available as a Limited Edition of 50 Giclee prints. I have a love of all things Beethoven and with this moving piece I have attempted to capture the moment he was forced to decide to either continue with his heroic rise to classical music super fame or to heartbreakingly give up the ghost of ever being able to compose again. The moment came whilst composing his Eroica symphony, which now has the historic poignancy of marking his decision to navigate his diagnosed near total deafness by uniquely using all his other senses to continue his commitment to his fire within. There is  both documented evidence and a filmic moment that captures his decision to push on, albeit he could not hear the keys on the piano. He could though feel the vibrations of each note and this was to become his daunting future as a composer. Not only did he achieve the unachievable but I think his disability was the making of the man and his mind bending musical genius. A massive achievement of super human effort. I love this piece.