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I've been pondering a lot about all the reasons why I love the blacksmith as the ultimate top/OG divine being in RWBY's metaphysics and it's all embodied in these two pictures.
The Descolada asked what it was about the shot that they loved so much and I think it's that wonderful contrast between the cosmic and the casual.
You have this higher being that resides in this transitive realm of souls and magic where the laws of physics are a polite fiction at best and the Blacksmith is obviously inhuman and larger than life but... They're also so relatable?
There's souls and cosmic background and whatnot but her workshop is plain old stone blocks and wooden racks that you could find anywhere, she sits down in a plain wooden chair and carves wooden figurines the old fashioned way with simple practical tools like a normal person.
Her workplace is mostly organized but just a little bit cluttered and haphazard, and the way its so plain sticks out like a sore thumb against the background. The blacksmith herself sticks out compared to the background.
She's made of metal but she's wearing an apron and a headband even though she doesn't need protection from sparks (not normal sparks at any rate) and doesn't sweat. She's got dirt and smudges sticking on her, she's got some rust here and there, she's even got a wrench tied to her arm with bandages. She also has no eyes, her hair is made of metal and she stands more than twice as tall as a human adult.
It's such a great mix of both being larger than life and down to earth at the same time. And its a design that could easily look sinister, and was previously framed in a sinister light to great effect, yet instead we have this kind, compassionate, patient and understanding entity that doesn not try to put herself above others but instead gets down to their level and works to help them be the best version of themselves that they can be, accepting them for what they are instead of judging them for what they're not.
And that shot of the blacksmith giving that friendly little wave goodbye before getting back to work is the culmination of that.
In comparison look at how the realms of the Brothers were so clearly made to impress (albeit through diametrically opposed aesthetics) and how their methods of appearing before mortals was so clearly designed to establish themselves as being above and out of reach of the mortals, especially the God of Light.
It's been commented before that the God of Light could have prevented basically every bad thing that's happened in the show just by showing some real compassion to a grieving widow and it becomes really obvious when you look at that pristine glowing Adonis who's keeping several of his own body lengths of distance at all times vs grungy old granny blacksmith who knees down and puts a supportive hand on your shoulder while telling you that you're good enough and that your feelings are valid.