A Remembrance

Wind from the Sea
Andrew Wyeth
Source

Part of the write-up for this painting from the National Gallery of Art (at the source above) says this about this wonderful painting -

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.

In a Pensive Mood ...

The Magpie
Claude Monet
(PD)

I've really got nothing to say today, Friday was a windy night, a morning visit to the dentist, a very rainy and windy day, wrapped up by a video visit with The Nuke and her tribe in the evening. That's pretty much it.

At some point in the day, it struck me just how much I like Monet's painting, The Magpie. It reminds me of my youth, of growing up, my home in Vermont. I'm not sure why, it just does.

Snow at Argenteuil
Claude Monet
(PD)

Yes, Snow at Argenteuil also takes me back.

I like Monet, something in his paintings speaks to me. We need art, I need art. Paintings, music, they make life beautiful.

Who do you like?