I Love the one-minute culture hit. What a great idea! We all need a little beauty in our lives these days. Looking at this painting, I can’t help but wonder what she is thinking.
I wonder what she’s thinking too. We’ll never know the answer, will we? But it’s fun trying to guess. Glad you like this new addition to the diaries. Thank you for letting me know.
I've been thinking about what you said all day. One of the best things about art is that it means different things to different people. And sometimes people see it differently depending on when they encounter it. From now on, I'll always consider the idea of a "trapped life" because of your comment, which has broadened my outlook on the painting and what it meant to be a woman in 1922 (and later). It also inspired me to look further into what Matisse was up to.
I learned that Matisse had visited Morocco about 10 years earlier, where the local population often stared meditatively into goldfish bowls. He distinguished predatory observation from disinterested contemplation, the latter being his preferred approach. So there's definitely some kind of reflective thinking going on in this painting and 8 others he painted of those golden creatures.
"For Matisse, the goldfish came to symbolize a tranquil state of mind and, at the same time, became evocative of a paradise lost, a subject frequently represented in art." (Khan Academy)
That comes very close to your idea, I think. A trapped life means loss of freedom, literally a lost paradise. So very glad you inspired me to look into this further. Thank you again!
Love the idea and most importantly the execution. Thank you. I, too, love Matisse.
It's really good to get your feedback. Glad you like it on both counts. Matisse, as they say, is the bomb. Thanks so much!
I Love the one-minute culture hit. What a great idea! We all need a little beauty in our lives these days. Looking at this painting, I can’t help but wonder what she is thinking.
I wonder what she’s thinking too. We’ll never know the answer, will we? But it’s fun trying to guess. Glad you like this new addition to the diaries. Thank you for letting me know.
Do you suppose she feels trapped in her life like the fish in the bowl? I appreciate your new culture moment.
I've been thinking about what you said all day. One of the best things about art is that it means different things to different people. And sometimes people see it differently depending on when they encounter it. From now on, I'll always consider the idea of a "trapped life" because of your comment, which has broadened my outlook on the painting and what it meant to be a woman in 1922 (and later). It also inspired me to look further into what Matisse was up to.
I learned that Matisse had visited Morocco about 10 years earlier, where the local population often stared meditatively into goldfish bowls. He distinguished predatory observation from disinterested contemplation, the latter being his preferred approach. So there's definitely some kind of reflective thinking going on in this painting and 8 others he painted of those golden creatures.
"For Matisse, the goldfish came to symbolize a tranquil state of mind and, at the same time, became evocative of a paradise lost, a subject frequently represented in art." (Khan Academy)
That comes very close to your idea, I think. A trapped life means loss of freedom, literally a lost paradise. So very glad you inspired me to look into this further. Thank you again!
Hmm. I hadn’t thought of that. Could be. Or maybe she’s feeling contemplative about something else. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Andrew! I really like the lagniappe! Keep sharing your inspired thoughts and links to fabulous art!
Delighted to hear it. Thank you!