Andrew Wyeth is dead.I'm not going to pretend I know a lot about art here. Largely because I don't know anything at all. I like what I like and I've managed to get this far on that. But I can say without hesitation that since I was a kid I've always liked the Wyeths. I've written about this before on here, though I can't seem to find it right now. Their paintings have always done a great deal to define Autumn and Winter for me, so you can imagine my enjoyment at seeing this quote attributed to Andrew while a the Brandywine River Museum a few years ago:
"I prefer winter and fall, when you feel the bone structure of the landscape - the loneliness of it, the dead feeling of winter. Something waits beneath it, the whole story doesn't show".
It's a beautiful line, and I've often wished I'd come up with it myself. But then I've always wished I could paint, too.
Anyways, this is a big hit for the Art world, Maine and Pennsylvania, and most of all to the Wyeth family. I wish them my condolences.
From top: Sea Boots, That Gentleman, Night Hauling, Dr. Syn, Jack-Be-Nimble
No nautical theme intended.
No nautical theme intended.
It's a really strange thing to say, but Andrew Wyeth could paint rural, colonial-era buildings better than anyone I've ever seen. It seems simple, and maybe it is. Maybe it's the benefit of having a location where there are so many to use as models. It's certainly a specific talent, but it's one that has always managed to impress me with each viewing.
3 comments:
I remember that quote well. Great post.
When i first met my wife, she had a picture of a painting entitled "My Squid Suit Brings Isolation" by Brad Eberhard taped to her dash in her 85 Mercedes wagon. The picture was a copy of "Christina's World" where the young girl was wearing a giant squid costume instead of just being lamed. I think the wife took it as a criticism of pretension in the art world, but i always kind of liked Wyeth for the inspiration. my mom always had that ginormous "Helga Pictures" book on her coffee table. odd that his work came up even that much in my life, kind of a testament to how pervasive he was in the culture at large. christ why did i get up so early.
i am trying to find a picture of my squid suit brings isolation and harpers (who printed it)is very powerful and it is very hard to get and my google search brought me here. anyway, as chase's wife i would like to clear things up. i think the painting (squid version) is wonderful because it is cruel. that is all. it poops all over what should be unpoopable. she's crippled, damnit.
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