I’ve been reading a biography of the painter Edward Hopper. Perhaps “reading” is too strong a word; like many biographies these days, it’s way too long, in this case nearly 600 pages of text plus a ton of notes. So … Continue reading →
There’s this: And then there’s this: ‘Nuff said.
Continue reading →Vincent Van Gogh on his relationship to posterity: As a painter, I will never amount to anything important. I am absolutely sure of it.
Continue reading →Thanksgiving weekend in NY, and what to do? As in many years past, this year I spent a couple of hours at Rockefeller Center drinking in the season. It’s a classic: the skating rink, the holiday decorations, the huge crowds, … Continue reading →
…has coincided with a rise in the rate of depression. The ravages of time didn’t used to be so well-documented. Then again—there’s a genre of YouTube videos that feature the morphing of photos of the same person over a long … Continue reading →
[Hat tip: Althouse.] Here’s a fascinating look at the world’s oldest photos. They’re probably older than you think: But they’re not older than I’d think. That’s because my mother has in her possession a bunch of family photos from the … Continue reading →
Quite a few people in the comments section on the thread with the gull riding on the eagle’s back thought the image was photoshopped. That was my first thought, too, but I don’t think it’s correct. Here’s the image again; … Continue reading →
Around the time of the tenth anniversary of 9/11 I wrote a post about the new 9/11 Memorial at the site. From the photos and the descriptions of the installation, it looked like a moving and profound tribute. Now I … Continue reading →
Well, the 9/11 Memorial was a long time coming, but it will be opening tomorrow on the 10th anniversary of that fateful day. Take a look, and perhaps you’ll agree with me that it’s a fitting tribute, classic and moving … Continue reading →
I’ve been doing some research about George Gershwin (this is an especially wonderful biography), and I’ve been surprised to learn that, in addition to his formidable musical talent, Gershwin was a major collector of modern art and a credible painter … Continue reading →
I was looking at a wonderful book I own, Paintings of New England, when I noticed this work by Thomas Hart Benton: It’s of Martha’s Vineyard, a place Benton regularly summered, and a spot I’ve visited on occasion. Benton is … Continue reading →
I love those YouTube morph things. Here’s one that features Hollywood actors. When I first watched it, I noticed that—even though I’m not a huge moviegoer—I still recognized the majority (although not all) of the actors. During the video, my … Continue reading →