japonisme: the roseanne rosannadanna dept.

09 February 2009

the roseanne rosannadanna dept.

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arthurwesleydow

Labels: arthur wesley dow

8 Comments:

Roxana said...: so beautiful! I love the purple flowers and how they mirror the sky. but such a story...; 10 February, 2009 01:44
PIGNOUF said...: Hello Lotusgreen, there is a surprise for you on my blog !...:); 10 February, 2009 10:14
Anonymous said...: Isn't it bizarre how some people covet things so much they begin to believe they are entitled to it? They convince themselves no one else appreciates its beauty or value as much they do, and therefore it belongs to them.

I worked with a woman a number of years ago at a horse registry who did nearly the same thing. A new general manager came onboard who wasn't a horse person, and she promptly hired contractors to redecorate her office to suit her tastes. An important painting by a renowned horse artist was removed from the wall to make room for something else. During this process, she worked closely with a woman who knew the importance of the painting, and had long admired it. No one knows exactly what exchange took place, whether she asked "If you don't want it, may I have it?" or "I'll take care of this.", whatever. But the painting, which I believe belongs to a trust, ended up in the second woman's home above the mantle. I lost track of what happened to it after that, but I think it may have been quietly returned after it was discovered in her home.

Granted, this wasn't a Dow painting, but same sort of situation.; 10 February, 2009 13:11
balsamfir said...: As the art market took off in the 70's and 80's many people who inherited work simply thought of it as family furniture around here. They liked it, and were attached to it, but didn't think of it as money lying around the house. So many friends of mine have been robbed in varying ways, from outright break-ins to dealers claiming to have sold things for less than the selling price and years after the sale. How sad. Its the best service the antiques roadshow does, getting people to think about what they've got and take better care of it.; 10 February, 2009 13:22
lotusgreen said...: in case anybody is wondering, roseanne rosannadanna was a character played by gilda radner on saturday night live back in its early days.

she'd go into these long rants which she always started off by saying "it's always something."

and thanks for that story, A -- it's fascinating.

and makes me wonder how many people have stuff in a closet or in the basement or even over the mantle, the value of which they have no idea....; 10 February, 2009 14:57
lotusgreen said...: pignouf-- i feel honored.; 10 February, 2009 15:06
lotusgreen said...: oh, and... i read last night-- this painting was dow's first to receive critical recognition and success.; 10 February, 2009 15:23
lotusgreen said...: balsamfir-- your message just showed up!(?)!

oh uyeah--that occurred to me too but i forgot.

while i was growing up, a painting leaned up against the back side of the furnace in the basement. it was this one. when i got my first apartment, i asked if i could take it (it had been my grandmother's), and the answer was yes. it has hung in my bedroom all these years since.

it's like the story told here about the work of tiffany; styles fall out of favor, lose all "value," then once again are seen for what they are.; 11 February, 2009 08:23

japonisme

09 February 2009

the roseanne rosannadanna dept.

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