19 Aug 2012

Comparison

The artist featured by Tess on her Mag 131 had a name unusual enough to make me want to know more, and what I found HERE set me thinking - a fatal occupation for any Sunday afternoon!
But eventually, the thoughts condensed into this set of shadormas, a form which, for me, allows thoughts to crystallize before my very eyes.

From two paintings by Adolphe Valette
A figure
stands in the foreground -
but without
any means
of identifying him,
he's an enigma.

Self portrait
by the same artist,
unfinished
and muted,
shows intense concentration,
but hides the real man.

Together,
two paintings capture
a story
still untold,
which our eyes will come to read
in their own fashion.

34 comments:

  1. guess just like him, if i ever do my own portrait, i cannot finish it too. since i will be in trouble if what part of me would be good to tell.

    nice one!

    JJRod'z

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  2. enigma, it is!! now that you say it, the pic looks enigmatic to me. lovely poem...

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  3. I read some of his life story and was touched by how happy he had been with his wife until she died from consumption and, their son had died aged 18 from Meningitis. That's enough heartache for one lifetime. He does look very thoughtful in his self portrait. Really like what you did with this Jinksy!

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  4. excellent take on this image! I too read up on him and then took an extreme left turn.
    I really like that word= enigma.

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  5. Yes, we always read this way with our eyes!

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  6. I wonder if it is possible for an artist in any medium to create a true picture of him- or herself. Truth has to be in the eye of the beholder. And that begs the question as to whether there really is one "truth" when it comes to people. I like your approach to this. It made me think. (Always a good thing, right?)

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  7. i like how you explain each pic, and then...nope together, we still don't know the story. there's a dry sort of humor to that!! :)

    under windsor bridge senryu

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  8. Not an easy poetic form ~ Shadormas, you aced this. I love looking forward to Sundays and art history 101 from Ms. Kincaid.

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  10. Does anybody really know anyone? I don't even think I totally know myself!

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    1. That is probably a basic truth for everyone. :)

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  11. This art is an enigma and expressive. Your poem captures the heart of the artists work, Jinksy. Thank you for sharing your poem and research. It fits together so perfectly. =D

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  12. Nicely done! You always find a unique angle on the image.

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  13. Perhaps both figures are wondering what would happen if they jumped. Enigmas, indeed.

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  14. Picture books tell many tales... and not a word in sight.:)

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  15. I love that the viewer thoughts come to fruition after some thought and contemplating the pieces of art. Loved this poem and seeing the other painting done by same artist,
    Hugs
    SUeAnn

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  16. Perhaps Under Windsor Bridge is also a self-portrait. He is a man with questions about life and death and himself in that context. A good artist tries to pose questions the viewer must ponder. I think he did that in both images. And you did it in your poem.

    Very nice.

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  17. I do wonder what he was waiting for- on duty ?
    at least his style is consistent! thanks.

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  18. And a few good ones have come up. Great. J.!

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  19. I really must have ago at this verse form Pen, though I could never live up to your mastery of it. It works so well here and the third one ties it all together - a captured story as you say, for us to interpret.

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  20. Thanks for bringing this additional art into the equation. And yes, he still appears to be hiding.

    =)

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  21. Yes, there seems to be some hidden questions about the artist and about the painting. It's good that you delved further into some background matters.It can be educational in getting familiar with artists. Shadormas appear inviting. Nice write Jinsky!

    Hank

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  22. Oh you are so right! It's nice to see a possible close up of this mystery man under the bridge! Very nice!

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  23. Very clever - in the best sense of the word. I really like this.

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  24. Good one Jinksy , are you a professor at Hogwarts by chance ? ,

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    1. Hmm...I like the question, but am puzzled as to why this Mag caused it to be asked? Hehehe! But Quidditch is a fun game... :)

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  25. Great job in bringing in the whole picture..looks like Sherlock is at it again?
    Your work inspires and amazed me!
    Mine is here
    Have you a ROCKING AND WEEK!!!
    hugs
    shakira

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  26. I liked your parallelism. I too was intrigued enough to look up the artist and his life...

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  27. Makes you want to grab hold, but it just wafts through your fingers.

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  28. it is interesting how the artist deals in shadow and how when looking at both they def tell a story of him....

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  29. I think most of us went searching for the artist's life story! I did!

    I love your shadorma which I looked up because it did not spring to mind as having learned about it in school. Once I read about it I still cannot remember whether or not we studied it! Maybe I was asleep during those classes and English was one of my subjects!

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