Ubu Imperator was created in 1923. It is a metaphor for the modern man, well, the modern man of that time. The word Imperator stands for commander in Latin. There are many aspects to the image that come together to reveal the artist’s intent. Rose outlines three sites in which meaning is made in an image. These are; sites of production, the image itself, and its audiencing (1962). Now, the site of production not only refers to the special site but also the time.
A selection of symbols makes up the meanings within Ubu Imperator. Firstly, the hands and their position portray authority and motion towards god. Next we have the green cloth which can mean commercialism and society’s expectations. The main subject matter of the image is a humanised wire armature, the colour of bold red. This draws the viewer’s attention and creates a sense of authority over the audience. Finally, the desert is expansive and stretches off into the background.
The spinning top conveys a message of instability which is contrasted with the overwhelming symbols of authority, and different types of it. Social authority, religious authority, visual authority, and so on.
Rose, G. 1962, Visual Methodologies: An Introduction to the Interpretation of Visual Materials, Sage, London.
Visual Culture 