I NEVER WENT TO TAHITI

Starting at around her mid to late teens a young woman was often heard to say, "I am afraid that my headstone will read, I Never Went to Tahiti".

Well, that is certainly not the case with M. Paul Gauguin, as he made two trips to Tahiti, his second when he left France for the last time in July 1895, dying at his island paradise alone on May 8, 1903.

During one of my coveted infrequent outings, while attempting to enjoy viewing various paintings at a gallery, one rep's voice was heard describing a painting, "... a cute one with all the crisp lines like an illustration..."  This from a young female who had just "done her walk of shame" certainly not demonstrating any crisp lines in her apparel.

Hearing her remarks caused a few questions to cross my mind.  How much could she possibly know about art history?  Still pondering...another thought came to me, "why...I have Neiman Marcus Christmas catalogs older than her."  My mental Qs continued...does she even paint?  No...her hands did not appear to have ever held a paint brush and judging from her askew 28 hour old eye make up, apparently more recently, not even a make up brush.  Tsk.  Tsk.

It was time to study a bit of art through the ages.  Bottecelli, Leonardo, Ingres, Bingham, Hopper, Okeeffe, Parrish, Wyeth to name just a few have been known to indulge in an occasional crisp line or two.  These painters were no slouches neither then nor now.

Monsieur Gauguin certainly laid down some crisp lines, at least after he left France and away from his fellow French painters of the late 19th century.  The Tahitian ladies in his later work even demonstrate black "cloisonne outlines".  

Yes, styles come and go.  The "painterly thing" can so often get out of control and then may be frequently overrated.  So what is wrong with a few crisp lines I ask.  Perhaps from time to time they may contribute to the comfort of that painter when often the only control to be had is at the end of a paint brush.

All images design concept content text are original and solely owned by Mimi Dee and may not be reproduced in any form.  Dec 25, 2013