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| Wind from the Sea Andrew Wyeth Source |
Wind from the Sea, painted a year before Christina's World¹, captures a moment on a hot summer day when Wyeth opened the seldom used window in an attic room. The picture is eerily alive with movement as the wind blows the curtains into the room. The tattered, transparent fabric is light and airy, with small embroidered birds along the edges that seem ready to dart into the house. In contrast, the sun-bleached wooden window sill looks sturdy and solid. The interior of the room is dim, while the landscape beyond the open window is stark and bright. The tree-lined view includes no figures, but as in so many other works by Wyeth, a strong sense of their presence is evident. Two well-worn tire tracks running across the dirt lead the viewer's eye toward the sea in the distance. The close vantage point and the tightly cropped window frame at the edge of the painting create the illusion that the viewer is actually looking out a window.
I've always been a fan of Wyeth's work and have probably seen this one before, but it struck me today just how poignant it is, to me at any rate and I'm sure to others.
Wyeth spent much of his life in the Brandywine area of Pennsylvania and on the coast of Maine. Though I've not been in that area of Pennsylvania, I intend to visit someday because of the battle that was fought there (me and battlefields, geez), I have spent a large amount of time on the Maine coast in my youth. It was where my parents liked to visit when we were kids. I love Maine, though all I'm familiar with is the coast south of Portland.
The painting reminded me of my youth, so long ago. The carefree summers, the presence of my grandparents, long gone, and the simplicity of life. Times were good back then, I occasionally have to remind myself that, for me, times are great right now.
I am one of the grandparents now and I can understand why my grandparents loved us so much. Grandchildren are special.
So is this painting and I'm glad it reminded me of how good life can be.
¹ Do chase that link for the story behind that painting.
I think you will really enjoy a visit to Chadds Ford. We stopped at the Wyeth Museum for a couple of hours on the way home from a memorial service on the main line and I was really impressed with the paintings and presentation. In Maine up at New Harbor or Pemaquid Point there are a few houses with the silhouette of Christine on the lawn reaching out to the house. They are just wonderfully silly.
ReplyDeleteI know I would, might plan such a trip for next year. Traveling from my daughter's place in Maryland makes that an easy journey. See the museum and the battlefield!
DeleteSarge, that second to last sentence knocked this post right out of the park. Perfectly written post! Exceptionally well down!
ReplyDeleteMore please.
juvat
It's what I mean when I say, "Isn't life grand!"
DeleteGreat post, Sarge. Especially the link to the story behind "Christina's World." I'd never paid attention to it before. Though of it as "Girl Startled from Nap in a Field."
ReplyDeleteReading the description of "Wind from the Sea" took me back to my K-12 days and made me realize why I've tended to ignore a lot of art. I had the misfortune of having to endure the inane "What was the artist trying to say?" "Why did the artist use this shade of blue?" "How could the artist have conveyed his message better?" dreck that sucked all the enjoyment out of it. What 4th grader can give a coherent answer, or gives half a hoot in Hades, about that? I looked forward to "aaht class" with the same enthusiasm as the "lit'tir'churr" unit of English class. What a shame that the people who teach "aaht" in the lower grades couldn't give the backstory the same as the video did.
Never did like that sort of art class. One of my favorite musicians once remarked, "That's one of the great things about music. You can sing a song to 85,000 people and they'll sing it back for 85,000 different reasons." Those same 85,000 would look at a painting and it would 85,000 different things. All of them correct. Perspective, Einstein understood it.
DeleteWyeth had talent, to be able to show a wisp of a curtain moving in the breeze with those birds.......I can feel the breeze Sarge. Going to hit that link after breakfast, thanks.
ReplyDeleteHis work is incredible. He puts you there.
DeleteSarge, when we went to Pennsylvania and Delaware in 2022 one of the specific reasons we went to Pennsylvania was to go to Chadd's Ford was to go to the Wyeth museum. It was worth the trip.
ReplyDeleteGene Logsden, the agriculture writer, was a great admirer of Wyeth, from where I got my interest. His book Wyeth People is an interesting read of Logsden in the 1960's trying first to interview Wyeth and ending up interviewing people that Wyeth painted. A little atypical for my reading list, but enjoyable.
I would like to go to Maine to see the house where Christina's World was painted.
Though the landscape around the house was a complete invention of Wyeth's, I would too. After all, it's a painting. not a photograph.
DeleteThou shalt go! And have a great time.
ReplyDeleteThis painting is by Andrew Wyeth (1917-2009), one of the great modern masters, and I love his work. Beautiful to the eye, but stirring to the soul with subtle messages.
However, I like the paintings of his father, N.C. Wyeth (1882-1945) even better. He excelled in both the beauty of art realm, and also in the "illustrator" world where he was commissioned to illustrate books or stories which were about the only mass exposure to art at the time. His "Treasure Island" illustrations are amazing, but so are most of the rest, including King Arthur's tales, and military themes.
Andy's son Jamie is highly acclaimed by art connoisseurs, but while he certainly has great talent, I find him just a bit too "edgy" for my taste. YMMV.
The Brandywine Museum is a wonderful experience, and besides the Three Wyeths, they have a lot of other good stuff, and special exhibits which change regularly. The temporary one at our last visit was a bit too woke for me to really enjoy, but moving through it quickly allowed more time to enjoy the real art. They do have optional tours of outlying properties, including N.C. Wyeth's studio and home (shuttle transportation provided) which we really enjoyed on a visit a few years ago. We did not visit Andy's studio or the Kuerner farm, which are relatively new additions to the museum. Check their site for hours and costs. Figure at least 2 hours.
The Brandywine battlefield is about a cannon shot to the east of the museum on Route 1 (Baltimore Pike). The park is run by the state of Pennsylvania with about 52 acres and some historic buildings and exhibits. I first (and last) visited there probably 50 years ago and was underwhelmed (as a callow and ignorant youth). I expect I would appreciate it far more on a future visit, especially if I read Rick Atkinson's second volume of his Rev War trilogy "The Fate of the Day" before going.
Since you will be in the neighborhood, Longwood Gardens is utterly magnificent floral and landscaping wonderland. I am sure that the Missus would enjoy that as much as you will enjoy the battlefield. It is about 4-5 miles west from Brandywine.
And, since every day is Saturday, you can spend another in day in the area. Hagley Museum is only about 8 miles (20 minutes) from Brandywine. It was the start of the DuPont gunpowder business and resulting fortune. Nice museum and you can visit the (no longer active) powder mill along the Brandywine creek. Then, proceed a couple miles to Winterthur, the DuPont mansion with a wonderful tour of the mansion, and several associated museum wings. The grounds of the estate are beautiful. Parking is a short walk from the admissions office/cafeteria (good food there!). Shuttles then take you around the grounds to the house and other points of interest and you can get on/off at several places. Excellent guides.
For another fun Saturday, plan a stop at the relatively new Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia, a block or two from Independence Hall. One of the best of many museums I have been to. Yeah, downtown Philly and parking, etc, but worth it. Only a few blocks from the site of Tun's Tavern, a place many recollect fondly at this time of the year, and Ben Franklin's home (when not off engaged in diplomacy and philanderery).
Plenty of stuff to enjoy. Carpe diem!
John Blackshoe
That area of Pennsylvania is jam-packed with things to do and places to see. Must start planning!
DeletePlus 100 on Longwood Gardens!
DeleteMy wife and I both enjoy gardens and landscaping.
Delete"The Brandywine battlefield is about a cannon shot to the east of the museum"
DeleteJB, is that maximum range or effective range? 3 pounder, 6 pounder, 18 pounder? Details matter! :-)
Canister? Round shot?
DeleteA bit more than canister, easy 6 pdr range, possibly even with 3 pdr. Some battle troops probably crossed the Brandywine at the Museum location.
Delete👍
DeleteAbout that second-to-last sentence, totally agree. I've said it here before "had I known grandkids were this great I would have had them first".
ReplyDeleteHeh.
DeleteAndrew Wyeth is one of the things that makes life nice.
ReplyDeleteChristina was an Olson. Olson women never give up. They are very stubborn, and that is one of the reasons we Olson men love them so much. They keep us grounded in reality.
Good to know.
DeleteThat is an elegant portrayal of, to me, a hot summer's day. Where'd you open up the attic windows so the house gets ventilated. I can smell the dust and faint amounts of ozone, feel the warm and cool breeze against me.
ReplyDeleteThat's art. One of those painting you can stare at for hours and still find new things to look at. Or, well, the painting stares back and you find new things in yourself.
Excellent post.
I love that painting, for those very reasons.
Delete