So I ran across this quote today that I fancied. It made me think. And I’ve been pondering on it all day wondering if it’s true.
All art that really draws us to look at it deeply is spiritual. (Wendy Beckett)
`
Now I don’t think Beckett is referring to “spiritual” in the sense of “religion.” I think she’s talking about:
-
of, relating to, or affecting the human spirit or soul as opposed to material or physical things.
I also don’t think when she says “art” she’s necessarily talking about paintings. I’m guessing she’s talking about ANY kind of art.
So what’s my favorite piece of art in my house? It’s my framed puzzle (I put together) of Charles Wysocki’s Her Captain’s Wistful Letter. (Though this is a print.)
So what is it I love about this picture so much? It’s the human connection. The heart that is yearning to be with her Captain but knows it’s a long winter until he comes home (at least that’s how I see it).
I relate to that need for human contact. To feel that kindred spirit with others. I feel it in my gut. That’s probably why my house is crammed with pictures of the kids and grandkids, our parents, Drollery and me. I even feel it in this picture by artist Jan Richardson called Where I’m From, which reminds me very much of a womb. It’s made from torn paper! (http://janrichardson.com/artfromblogs.html) And I’ve decided THIS is where I write home to when I’m journaling.
`
What about you? Do you think Wendy Beckett is right? What’s your favorite piece of artwork, and what does it say to you?
(Yes! Two weird ones in a row. I’m on a roll today!!! 😀 )
`
`
Picture Credits:
Her Captain’s Wistful Letter — americangallery.wordpress.com
Where I’m From — www.coastalchurchmaine.com
thecasualbibliophile said:
Art is as spiritual as it is sensual. ‘Liberty leading the people’ – Delacroix comes to mind. Or soul.
LikeLiked by 1 person
calensariel said:
“Liberty” is such a complex picture. It tells a lot of stories, doesn’t it… It also reminds me of “Do You Hear the People Sing?” from Les Mis. Nice choice! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
thecasualbibliophile said:
Absolutely! Even from Liberty herself to the barricade of the dead I can hear the pounding drum rhythm of ‘Do You Hear the People Sing’.
LikeLiked by 1 person
calensariel said:
I find Lincoln and the soldier full of stories in that picture. 😀
LikeLike
LuAnne Holder said:
This is a great activity. I think one of my favorite pieces of art is a painting of an elephant by an elephant. I am drawn to the simplicity but also by the connection I feel with animals and nature in general. So I think it is appealing to me because it represents a connection with a larger community of beings. I will try to post it here:
LikeLiked by 1 person
calensariel said:
I think I saw a video of that elephant doing that. It’s quite amazing, isn’t it! 😀 (Took your PB link off and put it back on again in edit so folks wouldn’t be all over your PB account.)
LikeLiked by 1 person
LuAnne Holder said:
Thank you, Lady C. Some of this technology is rather challenging for me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
doodletllc said:
Yes, art touches the soul. A painting that comes to mind for me is The Execution of Lady Jane Grey…I saw it in London at the National Gallery. It is massive in size. Her skin looks as if it’s painted with light. I stood in front of the painting in awe and couldn’t move away. In fact, I purchased a poster in the museum shop and was so, so disappointed. Guess it touched my soul, but I’m not sure why. But it did. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
calensariel said:
I’m curious. Did you know the story before you saw the picture? I just read the Wikipedia article about it. So tragic to think that she was so young when this happened. I’ve had the pleasure of beta reading Christina Och’s Desolate Empire Series (currently reading book four due out in November) based on the 30 Years War in Europe. She has mentioned their ages throughout the books and it has always floored me that the characters actually were all so young. This seems so cruel since she DID give up the bloomin’ throne! (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Execution_of_Lady_Jane_Grey)
LikeLiked by 1 person
doodletllc said:
Hi – No, I didn’t know the story before I saw the painting. A dreadful story to be sure. Aside from the brillant painting of the different fabrics (fur, satin, velvet) was the calm pose of the executioner…look at his hands – so relaxed….just waiting…and the detail of the straw on the ground around the chopping block – there to catch the blood. It is a gruesome scene but all you can focus on is the gentleness of the queen, the tenderness of the man helping her and the sadness of her court ladies. Wow, I’d forgotten how much I was moved by the piece. And plus it is larger than life…
LikeLiked by 1 person
calensariel said:
Yes, you’re right about the gentleness. Makes it all the more sad…
LikeLike
Safar Fiertze said:
There are two paintings which are fixed in my memory, one of a woman with a blaze of red hair strewn on ground like a frame around her face – it was huge, no idea who the artist is, and another small portrait by Renoir, but not sure which. The lighting, technique and everything about both of them was just mesmerising. Like a spiritual experience.
Here’s one I love though, but I’ve not seen first hand and would love to: Nude Descending a Staircase, No. 2 by Duchamp.
PD-US, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3922548
I really apologise if that really long embed link doesn’t work – feel free to edit if it doesn’t.
Other artists that move: Klimt (colour), Jacob Kramer (capturing soulful piety), Picasso (irreverent humour), Dali (weird, dreamscapes), Escher (beauty in maths), Kahlo (beauty in sorrow and pain), Magritte (irony, humour, cognitive dissonance), and Monet always makes me stop and gaze, walking back and forth from the paintings to see them change in appearance.
LikeLiked by 1 person
calensariel said:
Ok. THAT’S an interesting painting! I’m not sure I would have seen a nude descending a staircase. Did you know what it was before you saw it?
LikeLike
Safar Fiertze said:
Not straight away, but I looked away and came back to it a couple of mins later and realised it was a figure moving in time. I liked the aha of it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Opher said:
I like Magritte. I love his humour and his weird paintings make me think. I love Van Gogh and Renoir for their colours. I love Dali for his weirdness. I love Bosch, Kandinsky, Klee and Guagin, Monet and Rodin – but I’d be hard pressed to choose one particular painting.
LikeLiked by 1 person
calensariel said:
That’s quite the list you’ve got there. Three of them I’m not familiar with. Will have to check them out. But I do LOVE Monet! His paintings have a way of stripping away the demands of life for just a few minutes.
LikeLike
Soul Gifts said:
I don’t think I have a stand out favourite. I connect to colours in art first- soft pinks, mauves, purples. High chakra colours
LikeLiked by 1 person
calensariel said:
And what exactly does that mean, high chakra colours?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Soul Gifts said:
Oops, thought you knew. Each chakra has an associated colour. The high chakras – 5, 6, 7 – relate to spirituality. There are more chakras now too as the energies on the planet are becoming lighter and the vibrations raising. Those colours are finer and higher in vibrations too – silver, gold, platinum, magenta, rainbow ………
LikeLiked by 1 person
Clare said:
Just like Hemangini, I too believe art comes from within. But art also comes in may, many forms that we can be ‘drawn in’ to, like music, and writing. As for expressions on canvas, I love love love Stary Night. I can get lost in any aspect of Vincent’s work, as well as Don McLean’s beautiful song.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Clare said:
Oops – typo – Starry Night 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
calensariel said:
But the question is, what draws you to those works? How do they connect to your soul?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Clare said:
I can put my finger on it. The words, the colour, my perceived connection to the pain, and the wonder of love, life, and the universe.
LikeLiked by 1 person
calensariel said:
Well there you go! That tells us some things about what’s inside you we didn’t know. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Clare said:
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hemangini said:
wonderful thoughts… I think art comes from within and when someone puts themselves into something it does leave many effects.. My favorite art ever is my sister’s painting of missing blue tooth.. I wonder how do I add it here though..
LikeLiked by 1 person
calensariel said:
You mean an actually TOOTH or a HEAD PIECE? Sounds great! If you have it saved somewhere online you can just paste the link in. That’s the only thing I’ve ever been able to do.
LikeLike
Hemangini said:
I’ll share the picture with you once I post it somewhere.. It’s a face with a missing blue tooth. 😀 lol I hope you’d like what you see
LikeLiked by 1 person
calensariel said:
Can’t wait to see it! 😀
LikeLike