October 4, 2024October 3, 2024 ~ JezzieG
Masks Confronting Death
1888
Expressionism
Oil on canvas
The Museum of Modern Art, New York, New York, USA
‘Masks Confronting Death’ depicts Ensor’s use of masks to reveal the underside of society. The masks enable the artist to hide the identity of the figure whilst adding a note of mystery and intrigue. In this artwork, the masked figures are portrayed as scarier than the figure of Death who is seemingly cowering faced by society’s mockery.
James Ensor
Modern Art, Expressionism, Symbolism, Surrealism, Modernism
Born: 13 April 1860, Ostend, Belgium
Nationality: Belgian
Died: 19 November 1949, Ostend, Belgium
Ensor was a painter and printmaker. He was an important influence on expressionism and surrealism. Ensor spent most of his life in Ostend, Belgium, and was associated with the art group Les XX
October 4, 2024September 30, 2024 ~ JezzieG ~ 4 Comments
Soft Petals
Form: Cymraeg Soned
The cut rose in water stands
Hands of memory recall
The times when life was the rush
On the bush, the rose had all
Till ghostly thoughts and the tomb
Her bloom in water now sits
Yet sweet love still lingers here
And cheers the heart as is fit
The rose feeds dear love in death
Like a lost breath on the cheek
The air carries such sweet scent
Sweet lament that’s never weak
The sweet rose often sees me cry
Yet her petals caress my sight
©JezzieG2024
October 4, 2024October 3, 2024 ~ JezzieG ~ 2 Comments
Hide and Seek
All the trees are sleeping, all the winds are still,
All the flocks of fleecy clouds have wandered past the hill;
Through the noonday silence, down the woods of June,
Hark, a little hunter’s voice comes running with a tune.
“Hide and seek!
“When I speak,
“You must answer me:
“Call again,
“Merry men,
“Coo-ee, coo-ee, coo-ee!”
Now I hear his footsteps, rustling through the grass:
Hidden in my leafy nook, shall I let him pass?
Just a low, soft whistle,–quick the hunter turns,
Leaps upon me laughing, rolls me in the ferns.
“Hold him fast,
“Caught at last!
“Now you’re it, you see.
“Hide your eye,
“Till I cry,
“Coo-ee, coo-ee, coo-ee!”
II
Long ago he left me, long and long ago:
Now I wander through the world and seek him high and low;
Hidden safe and happy, in some pleasant place,–
Ah, if I could hear his voice, I soon should find his face.
Far away,
Many a day,
Where can Barney be?
Answer, dear,
Don’t you hear?
Coo-ee, coo-ee, coo-ee!
Birds that in the spring-time thrilled his heart with joy,
Flowers he loved to pick for me, mind me of my boy.
Surely he is waiting till my steps come nigh;
Love may hide itself awhile, but love can never die.
Heart, be glad,
The little lad
Will call some day to thee:
“Father dear,
“Heaven is here,
“Coo-ee, coo-ee, coo-ee!”
Henry Van Dyke
Born: 10 November 1852, Pennsylvania, USA
Nationality: American
Died: 10 April 1933, New Jersey, USA
Van Dyke was an author, educator, diplomat, clergyman, and poet. Various religious themes are often expressed in his poetry, hymns, and essays. Van Dyke composed the lyrics of the hymn ‘Joyful, Joyful! We Adore Thee’
October 4, 2024September 30, 2024 ~ JezzieG ~ 1 Comment
October 4, 2024October 3, 2024 ~ JezzieG
The Red Shoes
1948
Ballet
Brian Easdale
Opera, Film and TV, Orchestral, Choral
Born: 10 August 1909, Manchester, UK
Nationality: English
Died: 30 October 1995, London, UK
Easdale was a composer of operatic, orchestral, film, and choral music. He was best known for his film music including Black Narcissus (1947), The Red Shoes (1948), and The Battle of the River Plate (1956). Easdale was the first British composer to win an Academy Award for Best Original Music Score for the music for The Red Shoes
October 4, 2024October 3, 2024 ~ JezzieG
Rent
Album: Actually
Date: 1987
Genre: Alternative/Indie
Artist: Pet Shop Boys
An English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys formed in London in 1981. Consisting of vocalist Neil Tennant and Keyboardist Chris Lowe, the duo has sold over 100 million records globally. Pet Shop Boys are considered the most successful duo in UK music history achieving 42 Top 30 singles including ‘West End Girls’, ‘Always On My Mind’, ‘Heart’, and ‘It’s a Sin’
