PAINTING INSPIRATIONS IN ORHAN PAMUK’S <i>MY NAME IS RED</i>, JOSÉ SARAMAGO’S <i>BLINDNESS</i>, IRVING STONE’S <i>LUST FOR LIFE</i>, AND DAN BROWN’S <i>THE DA VINCI CODE</i> FROM A COMPARATIVE PERSPECTI

This article aims to identify and compare the inspiration drawn from painting and its influence on the thematic content and artistic form of four novels: My Name is Red by Orhan Pamuk, Blindness by José Saramago, Lust for Life by Irving Stone, and The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. Various research methods were employed in combination to achieve the study’s objectives, including comparative analysis, interdisciplinary approach, biographical method, and analytical method. The findings indicate that painting serves as a vital source of inspiration in the creative processes of all four authors: Orhan Pamuk, José Saramago, Irving Stone, and Dan Brown. Furthermore, this inspiration has significantly shaped the thematic content and artistic form of the four novels, contributing to their unique literary characteristics. Examining the role of artistic inspiration in these works through a comparative lens holds both scientific and practical significance. It reveals the similarities and differences among the authors in using painting as a creative inspiration, sheds light on the role of artistic influence in literary creation, and reinforces the close relationship between literature and painting. Additionally, it affirms interdisciplinary research as an essential and inevitable approach. This direction provides valuable insights for future studies comparing literature and painting in Vietnamese works and exploring the parallels between Vietnamese literature and global literary traditions.