Moulin Rouge

In early 1962 I lived in Dreux, France. I was very young and all of my memories are pleasant, some associated with smells like the bread baking in the morning when the housekeeper would take me with her to market. The taste of  a Palmier which the baker would treat me to each time I went. Mustard on a ham sandwich and my beloved ballet. 

My parents would go on dates to Paris and one night they came home with a doll dressed in purple satin with rows of white ruffles, feathers, black boots and she was beautiful. They had gone to Moulin Rouge and the doll was a Can-Can dancer. I was smitten with her.

This doll is very similar to mine except mine has blonde hair.

A few years later I saw the 1952 John Huston film Moulin Rouge 


and my doll became more special to me. Saturday night I was hunting for a movie to watch when that same movie popped up. I watched it again and I still love it. 

My inspiration...Moulin Rouge.
Enjoy!

Cheeky William

While I was on adventure in Denver I had a day at the Denver Art Museum and was inspired by a few paintings. One of them was "Still Life With Telegraph" by William Harnett. 

  William Michael Harnett ca 1880

William was born in County Cork, Ireland and shortly after that his family immigrated to America and settled in Philadelphia. His first known painting is dated 1874.

What fascinated me with this painting was that the pipe was still hot. As though William had been smoking it just before he set it down. The ash still has red hot coals and there is smoke twirling upwards. Capturing movement in a still life is cheeky and I adore this painting.  He painted it in 1880 but it was not the first painting of a still smoking pipe.

This week enjoy Cheeky William. 

Women of This Land

I just returned from an adventure in Denver.

One of my escapades led me to the Denver Museum of Art for all things art.  Another to the American Museum of Western Art to search for one of my favorite painters of Native People. I was not disappointed. 

I am a fan of artist George Catlin. I know he is surrounded by controversy. Some believing he exploited and others saying he captured in his portraits a people and way of life that would soon be destroyed. 

George visited 48 tribes in 6 years leaving us with a look back.  While some of his portraits are detailed and show great care, 
                
                      Little Wolf by George Catlin

others appear clumsy and rough. 

                                   
                          Du-cór-re-a, Chief of the Tribe, and His Family by George Catlin

Perhaps some people sat with pride and patience and others were shy and elusive causing him to have to draw fast.

In honor of my solo adventure into the once Wild West I have chosen his portraits of women. 
Oó-je-en-á-he-a, Woman Who Lives in a Bear's Den  -  George Catlin,

This week enjoy Women of This Land.