Victor Bregeda uses subtle cues within his art to showcase the importance of knowledge attainment. Often times, you will spot books and ladders throughout his paintings. Regardless of its seeming displacement, these objects are not there by accident.

Victor uses these two everyday items as symbols for both education and growth.

This week, we will explore his strong usage of knowledge as a showcase in art form.

Let’s begin with an artwork called In Search of Truth. This is a remarkable, visual story that portrays a human’s pursuit of answers to eternal questions – What is truth? Where can it be found?

Bregeda sets the stage as an abstract landscape of books, representing the sum of all knowledge. We observe several men on a philosophical mission to study the infinite texts. Can truth be found in the knowledge?

As mentioned previously, we see several ladders that reflect Bregeda’s symbols of both mental and spiritual growth.

In this work, Bregeda steps away from his traditional depiction of God the Father and introduces us to the luminescent image of God’s presence – the face of Truth.

This piece denotes the same journey that Victor has traveled over his lifetime. This has led him to the creation of many profound artworks, in reflection of his faith.

Victor Bregeda has been exploring the human pursuit of knowledge throughout his artistic career.

Tree of Knowledge takes this Bregeda tradition to the next level with a multipart philosophical vision that is united by one overarching idea.

A viewer’s journey begins with an observation of a tasteful still life arrangement: the wooden table, the stack of books, and a bouquet of roses tucked in the table’s drawer.

The lightweight drape, covering the table, and the books serve as a divider that takes the viewer beyond the still life into the twilight of a serene landscape.

The drape turns into a lake and rushes down from the table’s edge like a waterfall, as boats float peacefully in the distance.

The viewing sequence of these visual elements is not unintentional. Both scenic realms, the still life and the landscape, take the viewer on a journey around the canvas and culminate at the majestic tree in the center.

Devoid of leaves, the tree is bearing the book of knowledge in its crown. The branches skillfully conceal the silhouettes of the three faces. The first one rests his chin on the water surface, while the other two are hidden in the branches piercing through the book.

The linkage to the Garden of Eden exists and is supported by the apple and the roses, which add a touch of feminine presence to the scene.

However, the main idea of knowledge searching is exposed through the eyes of the person within the painting. He has searched human wisdom in the books and has discovered spiritual meaning in the tree.

Now, he is standing in front of a white canvas wondering how to apply this knowledge to his life.

Practice of Consciousness (aka The Secret Knowledge Place) is a philosophical look at the union of mind and soul resulting in creative work as previously seen in Tree of Knowledge.

The book once again symbolizes knowledge and serves as the foundation for the composition.

The pipe represents the meditative state of reflection.

The ladder appears again as Bregeda’s traditional symbol of spiritual growth.

The man with a matchstick is an artist. He has ignited the pipe. The smoke begins to float upward and shapes into God’s image, thus revealing a spiritual connection.

A blank canvas is set upon the easel (similar to Tree of Knowledge), looking out upon a scenic view.

God, in the form of a cloud, looks upon His creation.

The moment of mediation and reflection is here. It’s time to get to artistic work.

Our next painting Scholar’s Quest, delves a bit deeper into the history of knowledge and how it merges with the creation of new ideas.

The books, making up the landscape, contain all information that has ever Existed.

This is the memory of humanity throughout history- all that we have learned and all we are experiencing.

The wooden bridges and ladders between the books represent how one book points to another, leading to the infinite horizon-further suggesting limitless knowledge.

This makes a powerful point to the fact that one can always be learning.

So, have you started to notice a theme? Yes!

There are ever-present books and ladders throughout all of these paintings. They prove to be a subtle cue with very deliberate meaning.

You should also know that these are not the only paintings that have these objects present.

Make sure you take your time now when viewing Victor’s paintings. You might just see a ladder or book hidden somewhere.

Now, you know can impress your friends with your newfound knowledge!