Two Charming Nudes Together

 Lucas Cranach, "Venus and Cupid" 1537

"Nude Girl on a Fur" by Otto Dix 1932

Click image to enlarge

In the summer of 2010, The National Gallery of Scotland hung these two paintings in a mini face-off show called "Confrontation". The Dix is possibly my favorite painting he's ever done. It's so weird and beautiful all at the same time. I love the tones of yellow and the textures in this painting. The girl's crooked, curled toe completes a great composition. Her eyes and expression (of longing?) are uniquely Dix. The Cranach is one of many (see link) that he did using the exact same theme, but it's a charming one. I love that the "drape" the girl is wearing is so transparent as to be almost invisible (she is holding it up with her hand). 

The Art of Amy Crehore

Picture of the Day

"Chalk Cliffs on Rugen", 1818, by Caspar David Freidrich, 

painted as a celebration of his marriage to his wife. LINK 

I found this painting recently online and it reminds me a little bit of the art that I am currently doing, so I must get back to work. 

The Art of Amy Crehore

Salesman 1968

Mark at boingboing posted this trailer to a documentary about 4 salesmen selling bibles.
More info about the movie  LINK

"The Starfish" 1928 Film by Man Ray

 If you have 15 minutes, here's a wonderful, mysterious little B&W film by Man Ray starring Kiki and a starfish.

"Loan Me Your Heart", a Papa Charlie Jackson Song

Papa Charlie Jackson portrait by Amy Crehore

I love Papa Charlie Jackson's music from the 1920s. He played a 6-string Gibson guitar- banjo. Check out the huge head on this banjo (above). I painted this portrait of him in the 1990s. Our little band, The Hokum Scorchers, did a few of his numbers. One such song is "Loan Me Your Heart". I love this song. 

You can listen to our version (recorded in the 1990s) HERE. 
(I play washboard/cups and Lou Reimuller plays guitar and sings).

P.S. Another song by Papa Charlie Jackson is "Papa Do Do Do". Our version of that song can be found here: LINK 

The Art of Amy Crehore

A Few Unicorns

for Xeni

Robinet Testard, 1470 from the "Book of Simple Medicines"

 Raphael, 1520, Lady with Unicorn

 Leonardo, 1470s, Maiden with Unicorn

Unicorn Tapestry 1495-1505

Rembrandt's New Old Man

Experts have reclassified this painting, "Bearded Old Man", as one done by Rembrandt when he was 24 in the year 1630. X-rays show that there is a self-portrait of Rembrandt as a young man sketched underneath. This is only 6" x 8". Small works can be quite masterful. This one has wonderful lighting and great depth of feeling. LINK 

I previously blogged about a current show at The Clark Art Institute, showing a couple of examples of Rembrandt's self-portraits as a young man.

The Art of Amy Crehore