Lena Rivera
In the mockumentary series *What We Do in the Shadows*, the character Nadja is a 500-year-old vampire of Greek and Romani heritage. In the show, several famous paintings are featured as visual aids, including a rendition of Truth Coming Out of Her Well, with Nadja placed at its centre. This artistic rendering was created by Instagram user Scadarts, who explained that their involvement with the show began in Season 4, when they were approached by the show's team. Scadarts' interpretation of the painting serves to emphasise Nadja's Season 5 narrative, in which she seeks to reconnect with her culture.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Painting name | Truth Coming Out of Her Well |
| Artist | Gérôme |
| Interpretation | A new narrative with Nadja at the center |
| Location | Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York |
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What You'll Learn
Nadja's role in art history
In the world of What We Do in the Shadows, Nadja is a 500-year-old vampire of Greek and Romani heritage. Before she was turned, she was a peasant girl from Antipaxos, a tiny Mediterranean island. Nadja's backstory is revealed in the show through various works of art, including paintings, that appear as visual aids.
In Season 4, the show features a reimagined version of Gérôme's "Truth Coming Out of Her Well", with Nadja at its centre. This artistic rendering is used in the episode Local News, where the Staten Island vampires are forced to flee after Nandor's televised blunder. The painting serves as a visual representation of Nadja being exiled from her home, a theme that is further explored in Season 5 as she seeks to reconnect with her Antipaxon culture.
Nadja's presence in the painting also offers a new interpretation of the original work, as the show often does with historical artworks. These artistic renditions are specific to the character's age and country of origin, reflecting the art movements they would have lived through. For example, Nadja claims to have been depicted in Pablo Picasso's original version of Guernica, but her section was removed.
Through its clever use of art, What We Do in the Shadows expands on Nadja's rich history and character arc, contributing to the unique world-building of the show and its blend of supernatural elements with mundane sitcom antics.
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'Truth Coming Out of Her Well' painting
The painting "Truth Coming Out of Her Well" by Gérôme is featured in the TV show "What We Do in the Shadows". In the show, the painting depicts Nadja, a 500-year-old vampire of Greek and Romani heritage, and serves to emphasise her Season 5 narrative arc. In the show, Nadja is forced out of her home, and the painting reflects this by showing her at the bottom of a well, a metaphor for the string of exiles that created distance between her and her Antipaxon culture.
The original painting by Gérôme, however, has a different meaning. One of at least four paintings by the artist centred on Truth in her well, the paintings invite broad philosophical interpretations or specific commentary on events contemporary to the artist's era, such as the Dreyfus Affair or Impressionism.
The specific artistic rendering of Nadja in Gérôme's painting was created by Instagram user Scadarts, who is known for reimagining Star Wars characters as epic oil paintings. Scadarts explained that their role in bringing What We Do in the Shadow's various reinvented historical paintings to life started in Season 4 when the show's team reached out to collaborate over social media.
The painting has also been discussed on Reddit, with users expressing surprise at recognising the painting from the show at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
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Nadja's character arc in Season 5
Nadja, a 500-year-old vampire of Greek and Romani heritage, undergoes a significant character arc in Season 5 of "What We Do in the Shadows." In the previous season, Nadja faced challenges while running her vampire nightclub, including a fiasco that left her seeking new meaning in her afterlife.
Season 5 sees Nadja reconnecting with her cultural roots in Little Antipaxos, an important step in her journey towards finding purpose and meaning. This season, she also has to take her friend Guillermo to familiar urgent care and protests when she finds out he is to be put down. Nadja's relationship with Guillermo has evolved, and she now cares deeply for him, going as far as to pretend to be his girlfriend to protect him from his family.
Nadja's sensitivity about her childhood is also explored in Season 5, as she discovers that her village was pillaged by her future roommate, Nandor. This creates a rift in their relationship, as Nadja struggles with her identity and the distance between her and her Antipaxon culture.
The season also introduces a new character, The Guide, who works with Nadja at the nightclub. The Guide manipulates Nadja into believing she has an Antipaxon curse, which can only be lifted by doing good deeds. This adds another layer to Nadja's arc, as she navigates her relationships and seeks to lift the supposed curse.
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The show's world-building
The FX show *What We Do in the Shadows* is a supernatural mockumentary that presents a world similar to that of its viewers, but with a subtle foothold in the supernatural. The show's world-building is unique in its duality, balancing the lore of its world with sitcom antics.
For example, in the episode "Local News", the Staten Island vampires are preparing to flee after Nandor's televised blunder. This is when the famous Gérôme painting "Truth Coming Out of Her Well" first appears as one of many examples of Nadja being forced out of her home. The painting serves to further emphasize Nadja's overarching Season 5 narrative, as she seeks new avenues to imbue her afterlife with meaning and reconnects with her culture in Little Antipaxos.
The show also plays with the idea that Nadja has been depicted in famous works of art throughout history. In one instance, Nadja claims to have been depicted in Pablo Picasso's original version of Guernica, but her section was removed. Additionally, fans of the show have photoshopped Nadja into Rat Pack photos and paintings of Salome, further blurring the lines between the show's supernatural world and the real world.
Overall, the show's use of art and its subtle tweaks to mundane events, such as political scandals, effectively build a unique and engaging world that captivates its audience.
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The original painting at the Met
The original painting of Nadja at the Met is likely a reference to the "Truth Coming Out of Her Well" painting by Jean-Léon Gérôme. In the show, this painting is used as a visual aid and represents a chapter of Nadja's existence. The painting depicts Nadja as the famous feminine force that once lurked at the bottom of a well, exiled from her Antipaxon culture.
The inclusion of this painting in the show offers a new explanation and interpretation of the artwork, cleverly weaving in the show's running motif of historic art to enhance Nadja's character arc in Season 5. The artwork also serves to emphasise Nadja's ongoing narrative in Season 5, where she seeks new avenues to give meaning to her afterlife and reconnect with her Antipaxon culture.
The specific artistic rendering of Nadja in Gérôme's painting was created by Instagram user Scadarts, who is known for reimagining popular characters as epic oil paintings. Scadarts began their collaboration with the show's team in Season 4, bringing various reinvented historical paintings to life.
The painting of Nadja at the Met is not the only artwork referenced in "What We Do in the Shadows." Nadja also claims to have been depicted in Pablo Picasso's original version of "Guernica," but her section was removed. Additionally, a painting of Colin's portrait is mentioned, which Nadja and Laszlo posed for to honour Colin's memory.
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Frequently asked questions
The painting featured in the show is a rendition of "Truth Coming Out of Her Well" by Gérôme, with Nadja at the centre.
The original painting can be seen at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (the Met).
The painting serves to emphasise Nadja's Season 5 narrative, in which she seeks to reconnect with her Antipaxon culture.
