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Pictures meme (tagged by Hope_24)
Hope did this a while ago; it's a fascinating meme, but I found it a bit difficult. Asked to name five books or pieces of music that influenced me/speak to me/express my beliefs, I could do it very easily - the problem would be stopping at five! To name five influential paintings was a bit more difficult for me. Anyway, the challenge was to pick and post five pictures/paintings and explain why they are meaningful to you, and then pick five people to do the same.
I'm tagging Anne Arthur, professor mum, sander123, sigune (if you haven't done it already) and sydpad (if you have time, because you're also a graphic artist). And anyone else who wants to is free to grab this! Now the pictures, under a cut for length:
the Laundry at Branchville by J. Alden Weir, an image of the Weir farm. There is also a lovely view of the farm by Childe Hassam, in the Wadsworth Athenaeum, I believe, and every time we see it, Dad says, "Your grandfather worked for Mr. Weir" Weir was one of the leading American impressionists, and I love the impressionists; also, there is the family connection and the fact that this is right near where I lived when I was small - and I love the landscapes of Southern New England.
Cezanne's portrait of his father reading the Newspaper. We saw this in the Met, I think, and I loved it because of the story behind it - it seems Cezanne's dad really wanted his son to be a lawyer, so there was some conflict about that. But then Cezanne became a successful painter, and did this very accurate, affectionate portrait of his father. I love the feeling and humanity of this piece.
self portrait with pencil by Kaethe Kollwitz. I like the expressionists, too, and my whole family loves Kollwitz, who was a passionate and humane artist as well as a superb technician. She did this one towards the end of her life, and I think my sister and I saw it in Cologne when we were there three years ago.
Portrait of Fray Felix Hortensio Paravicino by El Greco.
When I showed my sister this one just now, she began singing, "Snape! Snape! Severus Snape!" Seriously, there are some similarities - and this young man is simply beautiful*. This is another one we saw in an exhibit, many years ago, and I never forgot it. What struck me most is that this portrait is so alive - the image has such intense eyes, as though he can actually see you and finds you intensely interesting, and you almost feel that he will get up out of his chair and start talking to you. The painting also gave you a strong feeling of warmth and friendship between the subject and the painter. At least, it did me!
Kollwitz again. Seed corn must not be ground; an anti-war poster done in the midst of WWII. Because it's true. We must protect the children, and war is an evil that devours them. The artist lost her own son in WWI, and, I believe, a grandson in WWII. It is amazing that she was not jailed for this piece. And it makes me very sad that it is still so relevant.
So those are mine. I hope you enjoyed them!
I'm tagging Anne Arthur, professor mum, sander123, sigune (if you haven't done it already) and sydpad (if you have time, because you're also a graphic artist). And anyone else who wants to is free to grab this! Now the pictures, under a cut for length:
the Laundry at Branchville by J. Alden Weir, an image of the Weir farm. There is also a lovely view of the farm by Childe Hassam, in the Wadsworth Athenaeum, I believe, and every time we see it, Dad says, "Your grandfather worked for Mr. Weir" Weir was one of the leading American impressionists, and I love the impressionists; also, there is the family connection and the fact that this is right near where I lived when I was small - and I love the landscapes of Southern New England.
Cezanne's portrait of his father reading the Newspaper. We saw this in the Met, I think, and I loved it because of the story behind it - it seems Cezanne's dad really wanted his son to be a lawyer, so there was some conflict about that. But then Cezanne became a successful painter, and did this very accurate, affectionate portrait of his father. I love the feeling and humanity of this piece.
self portrait with pencil by Kaethe Kollwitz. I like the expressionists, too, and my whole family loves Kollwitz, who was a passionate and humane artist as well as a superb technician. She did this one towards the end of her life, and I think my sister and I saw it in Cologne when we were there three years ago.
Portrait of Fray Felix Hortensio Paravicino by El Greco.
When I showed my sister this one just now, she began singing, "Snape! Snape! Severus Snape!" Seriously, there are some similarities - and this young man is simply beautiful*. This is another one we saw in an exhibit, many years ago, and I never forgot it. What struck me most is that this portrait is so alive - the image has such intense eyes, as though he can actually see you and finds you intensely interesting, and you almost feel that he will get up out of his chair and start talking to you. The painting also gave you a strong feeling of warmth and friendship between the subject and the painter. At least, it did me!
Kollwitz again. Seed corn must not be ground; an anti-war poster done in the midst of WWII. Because it's true. We must protect the children, and war is an evil that devours them. The artist lost her own son in WWI, and, I believe, a grandson in WWII. It is amazing that she was not jailed for this piece. And it makes me very sad that it is still so relevant.
So those are mine. I hope you enjoyed them!