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.
Thursday, July 24, 2025
#560 Self-portrait (1923)
#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?
Wednesday, July 09, 2025
#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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)