#560 Self-portrait (1923)

In the 1920s, the bowler
hat was everywhere. But
here, no sign of it. Still
some years to go before
it featured in his work,
appearing first as a de-
tective's derby, then
falling silent. Some de-
cades later returned, a
burst of energy, 50 or
60 times over the final
years — excluding that
flash mob assemblage
outside the window in
Golconda. A process by
which the anonymity of
the headgear become the
identifying component of
the Mr. Everyman persona
& of which, each time it app-
eared, the painter noted ceci
n'est pas un autoportrait.

#559 L'éternité (2)

Dante, Christ, &
a wheel of butter
in the middle. I
doubt that any of
these would keep
me happy for
eternity, not unless
there was something 
else to go with them.

Though I must admit
I sense something 
miraculous in the
line-up. Given that
the two busts are
somewhat crusty
with age, how does
the butter manage
to stay so fresh?

#558 Le Chant des Sirènes

Now that he has reached
the beach, he no longer
needs the candle to show
the way. The sea has called
to him — no, not the sea,
but the dwellers on some
islands situated in it. Un-
able to be seen, only barely
able to be heard; but the
song has resonances that
float above the water. Soon
he will look for a boat he
can hire, to take him close
to the source of the song.
Will take that green leaf he 
has brought with him on 
his journey from the interior
in the hope he will have a
funeral casket to lay it on.