Rabarbra 1911-21 Expressionism Oil on Canvas The Savings Bank Foundation / KODE
“Rabarbra” was painted late in Astrup’s career and depicts a woman stooped over gathering rhubarb while a child plays in the dirt. Beyond the figures, there are blossoming cherry trees. “Rabarbra” is one of several of the artist’s later works to feature the garden of his family home in Sandalstrand. Astrup and his wife, Engel, had built up the property from a few dilapidated structures creating their home and a working farm where they and their eight children could live off the land.
Nikolai Astrup 1880-1928
Nikolai Astrup Expressionism Born: 30 August 1880, Bremanger, Norway Nationality: Norwegian Died: 21 January 1928, Førde, Norway
Astrup was a modernist painter with a distinctive and innovative style noted for its intense use of colour depicting the landscapes of Vestlandet and the traditional way of life in the region
David Popper Romantic Born: 16 June 1843, Prague, Czechia Nationality: Bohemian Died: 7 August 1913, Baden bei Wien, Austria
Popper was a cellist and composer. Born in Prague he studied music at the Prague Conservatory under Julius Goltermann. Popper made his first tour in 1863 and in Germany, he was praised by Hans von Bülow, who recommended him as Chamber Virtuoso in the Court of Prince von Hohenzollern-Hechinger in Löwenberg
Never Quite Free Album: All Eternals Deck Date: 2011 Genre: Alternative/Indie Artist: The Mountain Goats
The Mountain Goats were formed in California by singer-songwriter John Darnielle in 1991. Darnielle remains the core member of the band and over the years has worked with a variety of collaborators such as Peter Hughes (bassist and vocalist), Matt Douglas (multi-instrumentalist), Rachel Ware (bassist and vocalist), Jon Wurster (drummer), and Kaki King (guitarist)
I have this quote with a different guy on a different beach on my bedroom wall, it is my heart’s truth. Not a day goes by when I don’t miss my Gabbie, but I know it is only a matter of time.
The first time I saw you at the station I knew I had known you someplace in time Perhaps at the dawn of creation As the earth came into her prime Our love began in its probation In sunshine, in rain, in every clime Here and there, in every nation I knew I’d love you in every lifetime
For eternal love has no cessation In familiarity that echoes the heart’s chime You and I, there is no end of duration I love you then, and will again, and this time Is as wonderful as the first incantation This life, and all lives, we’re desire in prime Making love in eternal adulation I knew I’d love you in every lifetime
Paris Through the Window 1913 Cubism Oil on canvas The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, New York, USA
“Paris Through the Window” reflects on Chagall’s personal feelings of divided loyalties between his love of modern Paris and the older ways of life in Russia. The figure in the bottom right looks both ways whilst the couple below the Eiffel Tower are split apart. Chagall does not attempt to dissect the subject, instead, he searches for beauty in the details.
Marc Chagall 1887-1985
Marc Chagall Expressionism, Cubism Born: 7 July 1887, Vitebsk, Russian Empire Nationality: Russian-French Died: 28 July 1985, Saint, Paul, France
Chagall was an artist. he was an early modernist associated with major artistic styles ad his works show a wide range of artistic formats including paintings, drawings, illustrations, stained glass, ceramics, tapestries, and fine art prints
Maurice Ravel Impressionism Born: 7 March 1875, Ciboure, France Nationality: French Died: 28 December 1937, Paris, France
Ravel was a composer, conductor, and pianist. Although he rejected the term he is often associated with Impressionism. During the 1920s and 1930s, Ravel was regarded internationally as France’s greatest living composer
Master and Servant Album: Some Great Reward Date: 1984 Genre: Synth-pop Artist: Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode are an electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex, England. The lineup consists of Dave Gahan (lead vocals and songwriter), Martin Gore (keyboards, guitar, vocals, and songwriter), and Andy Fletcher (keyboards). Depeche Mode have had 54 songs in the UK Singles Chart and 17 Top 10 albums in the UK. They were nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017 and 2018 and were inducted as part of the Class of 2020
A sadness filters deep within my soul Always there as something I have to feel For where you are is where I can be whole
Living this life is somehow too surreal Because I am here and not there with you For now, Mistress Fate has taken control And I wait for love’s crescendo to play As this sadness meanders on through me
My darling, please tell me what I should do Where do I find the will to make the day As in Fate’s twisted hand, I have no clue Somehow for your love, I will find a way
Whilst sadness lingers there for me to see I know it’s you who holds my destiny
Oh! Mr. Best, you’re very bad And all the world shall know it; Your base behaviour shall be sung By me, a tunefull Poet.– You used to go to Harrowgate Each summer as it came, And why I pray should you refuse To go this year the same?–
The way’s as plain, the road’s as smooth, The Posting not increased; You’re scarcely stouter than you were, Not younger Sir at least.–
If e’er the waters were of use Why now their use forego? You may not live another year, All’s mortal here below.–
It is your duty Mr Best To give your health repair. Vain else your Richard’s pills will be, And vain your Consort’s care.
But yet a nobler Duty calls You now towards the North. Arise ennobled–as Escort Of Martha Lloyd stand forth.
She wants your aid–she honours you With a distinguished call. Stand forth to be the friend of her Who is the friend of all.–
Take her, and wonder at your luck, In having such a Trust. Her converse sensible and sweet Will banish heat and dust.–
So short she’ll make the journey seem You’ll bid the Chaise stand still. T’will be like driving at full speed From Newb’ry to Speen hill.–
Convey her safe to Morton’s wife And I’ll forget the past, And write some verses in your praise As finely and as fast.
But if you still refuse to go I’ll never let your rest, Buy haunt you with reproachful song Oh! wicked Mr. Best!–
Jane Austen Born: 16 December 1775, Hampshire, England Nationality: English Died: 18 July 1817, Hampshire, England
Austen was a novelist and poet best known for her six major novels, which interpret, comment upon, and critique the English landed gentry of the late 18th century. Austen’s plots explored the dependence of women on making a good marriage in the pursuit of social standing, respectability, and economic security. Austen’s use of irony, realism, and social commentary has earned acclaim among critics and scholars alike. Her books were published anonymously in her lifetime and Austen gained greater status after her death. Her novels have rarely been out of print
My place of safety behind sunglasses As they shield my eyes away from your gaze I can see the truth of you as it passes
In the snide comments that come to reveal The new reality of what you call love And the agony you want me to feel In darkness, it’s not even a kind of
For I have seen what you cannot conceal From behind my shades that is truth, I see No more shall your lies in my heart amaze As when the beauty of love surpasses As what you want there is no kind of love
Behind shades, the truth set my heart free As no tears cry for what can never be
A stone of vitality, the carnelian is an orange-red variety of chalcedony, a cryptocrystalline quartz mineral. It has been used in many cultures as a stabilizing stone and symbolizes bold energy and stimulation of the spiritual self.
Carnelian
Carnelian is associated with the Sacral Chakra and is a symbol of life. It is also used for protection, wealth, and wisdom. Carnelian is an excellent stone for self-esteem and aids the wearer to develop and maintain a healthy image of self.
Carnelian empowers the individual to be outgoing and sociable. After a setback, carnelian is a positive and powerful tool in enabling the rebuild of self-esteem and self-worth.
Affirmation: I am filled with positive energy and vitality
NBC Rage 1961 Readymade Broken bass fiddle mounted on wood panel Estate of the artist
“NBC Rage” was created at a television studio during the making of a documentary about French avant-garde art. Arman used destruction as another perspective through which to view an object seeing the different tactics of multiplication and destruction as closely related approaches to an object.
Arman 1928-2005
Arman Nouveau Réalisme, Assemblage, Readymade and Found Object Born: 17 November 1928, Nice, France Nationality: French-American Died: 22 October 2005, New York, USA
Arman was an artist. He is renowned for moving from using objects for the ink or paint traces they leave to using the objects as artworks, Arman is best known for his Accumulations and destruction/recomposition of objects
Thistle and darnell and dock grew there, And a bush, in the corner, of may, On the orchard wall I used to sprawl In the blazing heat of the day;
Half asleep and half awake, While the birds went twittering by, And nobody there my lone to share But Nicholas Nye.
Nicholas Nye was lean and gray, Lame of leg and old, More than a score of donkey’s years He had been since he was foaled; He munched the thistles, purple and spiked, Would sometimes stoop and sigh, And turn to his head, as if he said, “Poor Nicholas Nye!”
Alone with his shadow he’d drowse in the meadow, Lazily swinging his tail, At break of day he used to bray,– Not much too hearty and hale; But a wonderful gumption was under his skin, And a clean calm light in his eye, And once in a while; he’d smile:– Would Nicholas Nye.
Seem to be smiling at me, he would, From his bush in the corner, of may,– Bony and ownerless, widowed and worn, Knobble-kneed, lonely and gray; And over the grass would seem to pass ‘Neath the deep dark blue of the sky, Something much better than words between me And Nicholas Nye.
But dusk would come in the apple boughs, The green of the glow-worm shine, The birds in nest would crouch to rest, And home I’d trudge to mine; And there, in the moonlight, dark with dew, Asking not wherefore nor why, Would brood like a ghost, and as still as a post, Old Nicholas Nye
Walter de la Mare Born: 25 April 1873, London, England Nationality: English Died: 22 June 1956, Twickenham, England
De la Mare was a poet, short story writer, and novelist, best remembered for his works for children and for his poem “The Listeners.” He also authored a subtle collection of psycho horror stories including “All Hallows” and “Seaton’s Aunt.” In 1921 he was awarded the James Tait Black Memorial Prize for his novel “Memoirs of a Midget” and in 1947 the Carnegie Medal for British Children’s Books
Enrico Caruso Opera Born: 25 February 1873, Naples, Italy Nationality: Italian Died: 2 August 1921, Naples, Italy
Caruso was an operatic first lyric tenor and dramatic tenor. To great acclaim, he sang at the major opera houses of Europe and America in a variety of roles from the Italian and French repertoires. Caruso was one of the first major singing talents to being commercially recorded and made 247 recordings from 1902-1920 making him an internationally popular star in the world of entertainment
Three and thirty birds there stood In an elder in a wood; Called Melmillo — flew off three, Leaving thirty in the tree; Called Melmillo — nine now gone, And the boughs held twenty-one; Called Melmillo — and eighteen Left but three to nod and preen; Called Melmillo — three–two–one– Now of birds were feathers none.
Then stole slim Melmillo in To that wood all dusk and green, And with lean long palms outspread Softly a strange dance did tread; Not a note of music she Had for echoing company; All the birds were flown to rest In the hollow of her breast; In the wood — thorn, elder willow — Danced alone — lone danced Melmillo
Walter de la Mare Born: 25 April 1873, London, England Nationality: English Died: 22 June 1956, Twickenham, England
De la Mare was a poet, short story writer, and novelist, best remembered for his works for children and for his poem “The Listeners.” He also authored a subtle collection of psycho horror stories including “All Hallows” and “Seaton’s Aunt.” In 1921 he was awarded the James Tait Black Memorial Prize for his novel “Memoirs of a Midget” and in 1947 the Carnegie Medal for British Children’s Books
A gathering of grey at the end of the day And I listen to the jasmine sipping the rain As I drink a chilled white wine I watch the summer rain drizzle from the tiles Refreshing the climbers on the trellis Their leaves thirsty from a hot day Softly falling drips and drops As I bid my garden goodnight
In the morning the rain has gone The light of the sun shining on vibrant green Making dark shadows a cool space for sparrows Their black eyes watching with caution The dish fill in time for breakfast From the deck table I see the flurry of brown feathers Chitter-chat and flutter over the seeds and nuts And the stillness of the raven on the shed roof Content to chew over the bacon A lovely sight on a summer’s day
Maximilian II, His Wife, and Three Children by Giuseppe Arcimboldo
Maximilian II, His Wife, and Three Children 1563 Mannerism
After Arcimboldo was appointed to the Habsburg Court he painted a port Maximilian II with his wife and children. It is an important work in Arcimboldo’s oeuvre as it illustrates the intermediate phase in the artist’s transition to the full Mannerist style.
Giuseppe Arcimboldo 1527-1593
Giuseppe Arcimboldo Mannerism Born: 1527, Milan, Italy Nationality: Italian Died: 11 July 1593, Milan, Italy
Arcimboldo was a painter best known for creating imaginative portrait heads made from objects such as fruit, vegetables, fish, books, and flowers. However, he was also a conventional painter of portraits, including three Holy Roman Emperors, religious subjects, and exotic animals. Arcimboldo’s still-life portraits were intended as curiosities, whimsical in nature produced to amuse the court.
Lady in Black Album: Salisbury Date: 1970 Genre: Rock Artist: Uriah Heep
Part of the early 1970s rock scene, Uriah Heep are a rock band formed in 1969 in London, UK. There have been numerous line-up changes throughout their 54-year career with guitarist Mick Box the only original member, Uriah Heep’s current line-up consists of Box, Phil Lanzon (keyboards), Bernie Shaw (vocals), Russell Gilbrook (drums), and Dave Rimmer (bass)
Inspired by and written for #Writephoto – thank you, KL
Form: Microfiction
Working en plein air isn’t always as fun as it sounds. It isn’t always creating beauty whilst surrounded by the wonders of nature sitting on the soft grass.
Today the wooden bench is hard and the gathering clouds threaten to drizzle streaks into my charcoal lines. I am determined to capture the classical beauty of the architecture before the rains come.
My hands guide the black sticks marking curves and outlines despite the chill in the air in a battle against the fading light. One more sketch and I will head back to work on canvas. A last bit of shading before the first splodge lands, creating a mad rush to put away charcoals and sketches.
Crashing thunder echoes through the night Blue light dances in the distant sky Like strangers coming into our sight And the clouds roar tempest from on high A shard of light sets the grass on fire As we watch through the old windowpane Another flash and another pyre For the gods are at war in the rain
Searing rage it’s one hell of a fight While we cuddle close, just you and I And here we cower out of the light As holy tempers rage as they fly For in their battle the gods won’t tire The end of days with storms so insane Recalling legends sung to a lyre For the gods are at war in the rain
Structure: Three quatrains and a couplet Meter: Pentameter or Decasyllabic Rhyme Scheme: aabb cccc ddee ff
Example
Morning Alarm by JezzieG
As the day begins breath deep a few times And listen to the sound of the wind chimes As the eyes soften to see the new day Before the birds waken to lead the way
Now limber up with a yawning stretch out Before touching the toes or there about Gently does it without a fear or doubt For the today, body and mind need clout
And the will doesn’t always come from coffee If only, how simple then life would be But when you are ready go make a cup And let the muse know you’re awake and up
But first things first go turn off the alarm For that incessant beeping has no charm
Silver flow the streams from Colos to Erui In the green fields of Lebennin! Tall grows the grass there. In the wind from the Sea The white lilies sway, And the golden bells are shaken of mallos and alfirin In the green fields of Lebennin, In the wind from the Sea!
JRR Tolkien Born: 3 January 1892, Bloemfontein, South Africa Nationality: English Died: 2 September 1973, Bournemouth, England
Tolkien was a writer and philologist, best known as the author of “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings”. He was also the Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon and a Fellow of Pembroke College at the University of Oxford. He and his close friend CS Lewis founded the informal literary group “The Inklings”. Many authors published works of fantasy before Tolkien, however, the great success of both “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings” directly led to a resurgence in the genre and Tolkien is often referred to as the father of modern fantasy literature
Karl Jenkins Jazz, Rock, Classical Born: 17 February 1944, Gower, Wales Nationality: Welsh
Jenkins is a composer and multi-instrumentalist. His best-known works include the song “Adiemus.” Educated at Cardiff University and the Royal Academy of Music Jenkins joined the jazz band Soft Machine in 1972. He became the group’s leading songwriter and worked with them until 1984. Jenkins as written music for TV ad campaigns and has won the industry prize twice
Knowing Me, Knowing You Album: Arrival Date: 1977 Genre: Pop Artist: Abba
Abba are a pop group formed in Stockholm, Sweden in 1972 by Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad. One of the most successful groups of all time they became one of the best-selling acts in popular music history
Solomon’s cat a mythical beast dark inside clichés and verse in a book of form writing a dirty story in a journalist’s handbook for a year and a day love’s serenade on a violin echoes among the trees of an English garden
Negative Earth Album: Everyone Is Everybody Else Date: 1974 Genre: Rock Artist: Barclay James Harvest
Founded in 1966, Barclay James Harvest are a progressive rock band. The original lineup consisted of Les Holroyd (bassist/vocalist), John Lees (guitarist/vocalist), Mel Pritchard (drummer/percussionist) 1948-2004, and Stuart Wolstenholme (keyboardist/vocalist) 1947-2010
Maurice Ravel Impressionism Born: 7 March 1875, Ciboure, France Nationality: French Died: 28 December 1937, Paris, France
Ravel was a composer, conductor, and pianist. Although he rejected the term he is often associated with Impressionism. During the 1920s and 1930s, Ravel was regarded internationally as France’s greatest living composer
O Germany, pale mother! How soiled you are As you sit among the peoples. You flaunt yourself Among the besmirched.
The poorest of your sons Lies struck down. When his hunger was great. Your other sons Raised their hands against him. This is notorious.
With their hands thus raised, Raised against their brother, They march insolently around you And laugh in your face. This is well known.
In your house Lies are roared aloud. But the truth Must be silent. Is it so?
Why do the oppressors praise you everywhere, The oppressed accuse you? The plundered Point to you with their fingers, but The plunderer praises the system That was invented in your house!
Whereupon everyone sees you Hiding the hem of your mantle which is bloody With the blood Of your best sons.
Hearing the harangues which echo from your house, men laugh. But whoever sees you reaches for a knife As at the approach of a robber.
O Germany, pale mother! How have your sons arrayed you That you sit among the peoples A thing of scorn and fear!
Bertolt Brecht Born: 10 February 1898, Augsburg, Germany Nationality: German Died: 14 August 1956, East Berlin, East Germany
Brecht was a theatre practitioner, playwright, and poet. He had his first successes as a playwright in Munich during the Weimar Republic and moved to Berlin in 1924. During his time in Berlin, he wrote “The Threepenny Opera” with Kurt Weill and began a life-long collaboration with the composer Hanns Eisler
I listen to you whisper on the breeze In echoes of other suns going down Scattered under the shedding autumn trees Amongst the dancing of gold, red, and brown I sit for a moment taking my ease
Recalling times we sat in the dim light Watching the sky turn to that burning red Yet everything seemed so vibrant and bright I hear the whispers of love that you said That never fades in this, a long, good night
In the trees, I’m blessed by thinking of you Precious moments money can never buy Possessions can’t keep me this close to you The things you left behind just make me cry For it is your sweet love that I value
We’ll live again the time we knew before, a place where only love can touch the soul, as on an eagle’s wings we swoop and soar, once more, my dearest love, we can be whole. Ev’ry embrace shall take us to our place and write the precious words in amber sands to honour love divine in all its grace, while walking to the night as it demands. And there beneath the violet moon, so rare, I’ll ask you from my knee to be my wife, to stay with me in this old place we share, and once again, I offer you, my life. On this sweet night in our love’s purple haze where we belong until the end of days
Pablo Picasso and Françoise Gilot, Golfe-Juan, France by Robert Capa
Pablo Picasso and Françoise Gilot, Golfe-Juan, France 1948 Photography Silver Gelatin Print – Collection of International Center of Photography, New York, USA
In a light-hearted image, Capa captured the legendary Picasso carrying an umbrella whilst walking along the beach shading his young lover Françoise Gilot. The twenty-six-year-old Gilot strides toward the camera with confidence. In the background, Picasso’s nephew Javier Vilato seems to be strolling through the scene. Taken from a low vantage point the mastery of Capa’s composition makes the three figures appear descending in scale from Gilot in the foreground to Vilato in the middle background. Gilot was a talented painter. The couple met in France during the occupation before Picasso had officially separated from his wife, Olga Khokhlova. They had a ten-year tumultuous affair resulting in two children before Gilot left and later moved to the USA where she married Dr. Jonas Salk, a pioneer of the polio vaccine.
Robert Capa 1913-1954
Robert Capa Photojournalism, Documentary Photography, Modern Photography Born: 22 October 1913, Budapest, Hungary Nationality: Hungarian-American Died: 25 May 1954, Thái Bình, Vietnam
Capa was a war photographer and photojournalist and is among the best combat and adventure photographers in history. He had fled political repression in Hungary as a teenager, moving to Berlin whereas a student he witnessed the rise of Hitler and the Nazis. He moved to Paris and finally, to America, Capa, and his professional partner Gerda Taro began to publish their work. Capa covers five wars: the Spanish Civil War, the Second Sino-Japanese War, WW2 across Europe, the Arab-Israeli War of 1948, and the First Indochina War. His images were published in major magazines and newspapers. Capa was killed by a landmine in Vietnam
Glory be to God for dappled thing – For skies of couple-colour as a brinded cow; For rose-moles all in stipple upon trout that swim, Fresh-firecoal chestnut-falls; finches’ wings, Landscape plotted and pieced – fold, fallow, and plough; And all trades, their gear and tackle and trim. All things counter, original, spare, strange; Whatever is fickle, freckled (who knows how?) Well swift, slow; sweet, sour; adazzle, dim; He fathers-forth whose beauty is past change: Praise him
Yuvan Shankar Raja Film and TV Born: 31 August 1979, Chennai, India Nationality: Indian
Raja is a film score and soundtrack composer and singer-songwriter. He is known for his music scores for Tamil films and is considered a versatile composer. Raja utilizes Western music elements and has been credited for introducing hip-hop to the Tamil film and music industry. Over a 25-year career, Raja has worked on over 100 films winning wards such as the Filmfare Award for Best Music Director in 2004 for his score for Rainbow Colony. In 2015 Raja formed his own music label, U1 Records, and in 2017 the film production studio, YSR Films
Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door Album: 30 Anniversary Concert Celebration Date: 1975 Genre: Classic Rock Artist: Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton is a rock and blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He is considered one of the most influential guitarists in rock music and ranks second in Rolling Stone’s list of 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.
‘What is the world, O soldiers? It is I: I, this incessant snow, This northern sky; Soldiers, this solitude Through which we go Is I.’
Walter de la Mare Born: 25 April 1873, London, England Nationality: English Died: 22 June 1956, Twickenham, England
De la Mare was a poet, short story writer, and novelist, best remembered for his works for children and for his poem “The Listeners.” He also authored a subtle collection of psycho horror stories including “All Hallows” and “Seaton’s Aunt.” In 1921 he was awarded the James Tait Black Memorial Prize for his novel “Memoirs of a Midget” and in 1947 the Carnegie Medal for British Children’s Books
Jezzie G 