"Thanks to art, instead of seeing a single world, our own, we see it multiply until we have before us as many worlds as there are original artists."
Marcel Proust
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
An Old Favorite
Christina's World, 1948 by Andrew Wyeth, Museum of Modern Art, New York.
Wyeth's painting of a young woman who, unable to walk, often crawled around the house in Maine where she lived and where Wyeth stayed and which he painted many times.
As a couple of the links point out, Wyeth has taken a hit from the critics because of his popularity however, broad appeal can also mark the success of an artist to reach and move his audience.
And you know what? Andrew failed to copyright this painting. And he sold it for $200. The painting is everywhere on posters, cards--you name it. I'm sure he doesn't need the money because of his great life's work, but this one alone would have brought in a fortune. This is one of the 20th century masterpieces.
You know I never realized that the girl couldn't walk. I always thought she was in a pose of expectation or longing, looking at the house. Or that she'd fallen and was distracted by something in the process of standing up.
i'd heard this before, but christina was not painted as a young woman, but rather further on in years. wyeth hadn't met her when she was young. there appears to be a frailty (though the handicap could explain this) about the figure as well as some indication of grey hairs. more on that here - http://obilon.blogspot.com/2005/12/christinas-world.html - such a powerful piece, anyway.
7 comments:
This is my mother's favorite painting. She's got a print of it in her dining room.
As a couple of the links point out, Wyeth has taken a hit from the critics because of his popularity however, broad appeal can also mark the success of an artist to reach and move his audience.
Martha
And you know what? Andrew failed to copyright this painting. And he sold it for $200. The painting is everywhere on posters, cards--you name it. I'm sure he doesn't need the money because of his great life's work, but this one alone would have brought in a fortune. This is one of the 20th century masterpieces.
Removed comment posted twice.
Martha
You know I never realized that the girl couldn't walk. I always thought she was in a pose of expectation or longing, looking at the house. Or that she'd fallen and was distracted by something in the process of standing up.
i'd heard this before, but christina was not painted as a young woman, but rather further on in years. wyeth hadn't met her when she was young. there appears to be a frailty (though the handicap could explain this) about the figure as well as some indication of grey hairs. more on that here - http://obilon.blogspot.com/2005/12/christinas-world.html - such a powerful piece, anyway.
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