Love Will Tear Us Apart is a visually impacting artwork filled with symbolic meaning and visual metaphors. A commonly used symbol, the butterfly, representing beauty, grace, and metamorphosis, has been used in an original manner to effectively document the meaning of the piece. Instead of the generic symmetrical, spread-wings approach, *delirium77 has used two equally unique butterflies from a profile view to create the feeling of one whole. The butterflies, in their conflicting position, seem to represent the different sides to one story. This has been further constructed by their positioning over the subjects eyes, which both mask her face yet act as a facial feature in itself.

The style of the artwork further demonstrates the consideration that went into the design of Love Will Tear Us Apart. The rough, ‘scribble’ approach to the artwork creates a feeling of chaos and emotional trauma and confusion. In having the figure created from scribbles, the artist has effectively shown the emotional distress that makes the person as a whole. The red splashes are reminiscent of passion and fury, and despite the bright colouring of the paint, it does not detract attention from the overall design.

Love Will Tear Us Apart is a thought-provoking artwork which effectively portrays the emotional upheaval love can cause. It has a ring of human veracity and despite the commonly used symbols, is highly original. The overall aesthetic quality of the piece is tied together through the careful balance of grace and detail and rough yet considered application. It calls for a closer examination of the meaning behind the artwork, and its mass appeal will ensure that everyone interprets this clever and beautiful composition differently.