Strange Days

03 Saturday Oct 2020

Posted by michelinewalker in Human Condition, Sharing

Tags

Covid-19, Félix Vallotton, freedom, memory, passwords, President Trump

**Honfleur** par Félix Vallotton, 1901 (Wikipedia)

First, I would like to say that I’m very sorry President Trump and the First Lady, Melania, have tested positive for the novel coronavirus. It is a life-threatening illness, and it happened on the eve of the election of a president of the United States. Yes, President Trump denied the illness, but so did millions around the world. Who can imagine so tenacious a virus as the novel coronavirus? It is best to believe a genuine problem has arisen, just in case. Many feel that the compulsory use of a mask is an infringement on their liberty. It’s prudence.

Second, and rather humbling, I was unable to remember my password to Microsoft, except for four digits. I had just acquired a smartphone, which became an obstacle. I had never used a smartphone and it seems the number had been disabled. They would not use an ordinary phone and the one I have has a new number. I did enter the correct number several times, but I was suddenly required to purchase Office 365. So, I started to worry. Microsoft should ask for a person’s consent before using a credit card. What if a new purchase does not cancel a previous one?

I have used the art of Swiss French artist Félix Vallotton. He was one of the Nabis, but they parted ways. L’Affaire Dreyfus may have been a source of division. (See Félix Vallotton, Wikipedia.) I should list posts I wrote in 2013.

Love to everyone 💕

Félix Vallotton

A Moment of Grace

06 Thursday Jun 2019

Posted by michelinewalker in Sharing, War

≈ 24 Comments

Tags

A Moment of Grace, D-Day, Félix Vallotton, Schubert

The Family of Trees
Félix Vallotton – 1922

I did not intend to write an article today. But I just realized that today is the anniversary of D-Day, and I have a story to tell. In fact, it is a story I have already told, but …

One of my uncles survived D-Day for reasons he cannot understand. He then went north to Holland where he was asked to accompany prisoners of war who were being transported. They were seated at the back of a truck. All was well.

Out of the blue, one of the prisoners leaped from his seat and lowered my uncle’s body. My uncle nearly fell and he lost his rifle. The prisoner of war then helped him get up and retrieved the rifle. My uncle could not understand what had happened. So, the soldier showed him a metal wire the truck had just driven past. It would have decapitated my uncle had this “enemy” not seen it and acted promptly.

This was a moment of grace and innocence. It was a moment so precious that my uncle never forgot. In peacetime, the two young men would have enjoyed a long conversation over coffee. War had separated them.

It has been seventy-five years. Yet, tears still come to my uncle’s eyes when he remembers.

Schubert, Trio op. 100 – Andante con moto
Par le Trio Wanderer (Voyage d’hiver 2007 – Carte Blanche au Trio Wanderer, réalisation Jean-Pierre Barizien – CLC Productions)

Chrysanthemums and Autumn Foliage
Félix Vallotton – 1922

Félix Vallotton: July 19th, 2012

19 Thursday Jul 2012

Posted by michelinewalker in Art

≈ 7 Comments

Tags

Félix Vallotton, Japonisme, Les Nabis, Stéphane Mallarmé

Femmes nues aux chats by Félix Vallotton

Félix Edouard Vallotton (December 28, 1865 – December 29, 1925) “was a Swiss painter and printmaker associated with Les Nabis. He was an important figure in the development of the modern woodcut.” (Wikipedia) After graduating for the Collège Cantonal in Lausanne, Félix moved to Paris to study at the famous Académie Julian. As stated in Wikipedia, his contribution to the development of the modern woodcut sets him apart. Vallotton is associated mainly with late nineteenth-century symbolism, a French, Russian and Belgian movement. The symbolists were influenced by oriental art and, in particular, Japonisme.

Symbolism is a post-impressionist movement and is characterized by its spirituality. In this regard, it is part of a larger movement that encompasses literature and other schools: Les Nabis is one. In literature, such poets as Stéphane Mallarmé sought to reach “l’absolu.” Mallarmé did so by writing in so hermetic a language that some of his poetry is not accessible to most readers. If any art ever attained an infinite, it is music, a language above language.

Vallotton’s art is not altogether symbolist. However, his nude figures are characteristics of symbolism and they are also to be found in Ferdinand Hodner, another Swiss-born artist whose art I featured in my Ferdinand Hodner: July 15th, 2012.

Photo credit: ABC Gallery & www.museumsyndicate.com