A Pair of Boots (2007) -- photograph by YTSL
A Pair of Boots (1887) -- painting by Vincent van GoghIn a break with "tradition" (i.e., my usual Photo Hunt practice), I'm posting an image that's not my creation along with a photograph that I took. And if you're wondering, of course there's a story and reason behind my doing so, and here it is:-
The photograph above the Photo Hunters button is, in keeping with this week's Shoes theme, a pair of boots. At first glance, they may seem like a couple of ordinary -- and humbler than usual -- pieces of footwear. Look more closely, however, and you'll find that they're actually a ceramic rendition of a pair of boots rather than the real McCoy. (Hence my "artistic" decision to photograph them on a background of ceramic tiles! ;b )
More specifically, they're a miniature as well as ceramic pair of boots; ones that I bought in large part because they remind me of the boots -- and related footwear -- that one of my favorite artists of all time, Vincent van Gogh, sketched and painted several still lifes of (most frequently during his Paris period but, also, would return to during at least once later in Arles).
One of the reasons that I like the work of van Gogh as much as I do is because, unlike so many fine artists before him (and since), he'd paint and thereby draw attention to humble subject matter. Instead of noble lords and ladies, he painted poor, presumably honest laborers like field hands, miners and other potato eaters. Instead of roses and other expensive flowers, he depicted irises and sunflowers. Instead of fur, velvet or jewellery, he focused on boots and shoes.
So, yes, it does seem pretty ironic that his works have come to regularly command the highest prices at art auctions and such as well as hang in many of the world's major museums. And even more so when it's realized that this tormented genius -- one of those who truly was (too) far ahead of his time -- never managed to sell a single painting over the course of his life! ;S
23 comments:
At first glance I thought you were attempting to replicate the painting with your photo and after reading your post, I can see that was close to what you were doing. Very nicely done!
Lovely post. Van Gogh is a favorite of mine as well.
Love the photo.
Interesting idea comparing works of art. Those ceramic shoes looks like it could be from another era.
Great Photo Hunt!
Hi Linda --
Actually, I wasn't attempting to replicate the painting but, as it turns out, yeah re their similarity -- not least as far as the colors of the boots and the backgrounds are concerned! :)
Hi jenn in holland --
Bet you've been to the van Gogh museum. If so, lucky you and trust that you very much enjoyed your visit to it! :)
Hi Lissa --
Thanks! And funny, it seems you were visiting this blog around the same time that I was visiting yours! :o
hoo, nice shoot.
its very specialy
have a nice weekend!
Great post! I love van Gogh. Have you been to the van Gogh muesum in Amsterdam? Well worth it.
I love the first picture. Vintage and a collectible.
Wonderful take on today's theme.
What a wonderful idea for the theme. I salute you. Van Gogh is truly a wonderful artist, sadly unrecognized in his day.
I LOVE this post. a wonderful take on the theme.
I really enjoyed your photos and the reasoning behind them. Great job.
Everyone is invited to my blog to see my take on todays theme. Hope to see you there.
http://iwasborn2cree8.blogspot.com
Great job! I like how you posted it with a Van Gogh painting.
Great work with the "shoe" theme this week... Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend!
Hi Suwan --
So far, so good re the weekend. Hope yours is good too. :)
Hi "jams o'donnell" --
Alas, I've yet to visit any part of Holland, never mind the Van Gogh Museum. One of the places on my "must see before I die" list.
Hi Lynn --
Thanks, especially since the first picture was taken by me... :)
Hi Barbara H --
Thanks! :)
Hi jmb --
Yes, it seems like many geniuses are unrecognized in their day. At least van Gogh's artistry has been recognized in the years since his death.
Hi tegdirb92 and (Imma) Alice --
Thanks for helping make my day with your comments! :)
Hi Montserrat --
Thanks to you too! :)
Hi desert diva --
You're welcome! :)
Great idea for the photo hunt this week! Ceramic boots - first time I've seen one :)
Happy weekend!
one of my greatest admiration of you is the amount of thought you put into the things you want to do and the quality of your output as well as your consistency and discipline. it never fails to amaze! ;-) by the way, i love the cathay dvds you loaned. absolutely marvellous and am now wanting to build my own cathay collection ;-)
Hi MommyBa --
Thanks and happy weekend to you too! :)
Hi hdoong --
*Blush* *blush* for the compliments! Hey, wanna be my boss? Would love to have one as appreciative as you! :DDD
And yes, the Cathay movies are great. At least, I must say that I tend to love the comedies. Shoot me an e-mail to remind me which ones I loaned you, will ya? ;)
Very nice interpretation of the theme ! Reminds me of a little pair of bronze shoes I have, the first leather shoes of my son which I had have made in bronze.
Hi Gattina --
You bronzed your son's first pair of leather shoes? What a novel idea/action! :)
Wow it has been sometime since I last visited here and it is so nice to visit back :)
Hi "eliza bennet" (and others who are reading this) --
To be honest, I'm surprised that as large a number of people continue to visit and check out this blog. Thanks for doing so! :)
Wonderful post..Lovely painting.Thanks for the post..keep posting like this..its interesting..
Hi Lizy --
Welcome and I'm glad you like this post and hope that you'll find many more posts on this blog that are to your liking. :)
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