Skip to main content

Downstairs XIII

 

Coincidences do not exist. Not even in Denmark.

It was meant to be another painting for my series Hands' Private Life, as I wanted to make a study after a masterpiece by Antonio Mancini depicting a sewing woman, backlit. Mancini could put her hand on the canvas unmistakably right with just a few impressionistic brush strokes - we immediately recognise what she is doing. My goal was to make my own version, accentuating the hand while maintaining Mancini's light and the woman's posture. Initially, I planned to set a scene in a grey-blue-red interior, using the interior of our kitchen with a window behind her.

However, neither the hand nor the overall composition came together as I had hoped, leading me to wipe the painting off mid-progress and start over. 

 

In my second attempt, I decided to focus on the figure, first working out the face and the hand. At that point, I wasn't sure about the overall composition yet. 

Then I found some photos I had taken last autumn at the beautiful Anchers Hus in Skagen, Denmark. Among these photos were images of the historic kitchen and utility rooms, which I thought would fit my composition nicely. So, I relocated my sewing woman to the very north of Denmark and boldly "moved" the monumental scullery sink to accommodate her chair and basket instead. Apologies to the house and for the historical and architectural inaccuracy! 

Placing her in this historical interior not only pays homage to Mancini but also connects to my Downstairs series. 

Additionally, I believe this must also serve as a tribute to the Danish painter Vilhelm Hammershøi, as I recently received some wonderful art books, including ones featuring his mysterious interiors. Coincidences don't exist.


I think I will call it "Downstairs 13". Or "Mancini's Girl in Anchers Hus"
Oil on canvas 40 x 30 cm, alla prima.

View the finished painting in my gallery.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Peaceful Fields, project completed

A very special commission indeed When I posted  this story in March   I still did not quite believe this project could ever be realised. Today I am  proud to tell and to show that the project was successfully completed and that I was honoured to play a small part in it.  But first things first. The most northern historical windmill in the Netherlands, called De Phenix, has been thoroughly restored and repurposed as a unique working both flour and oil mill with a large underground visiting area. Dozens of professionals and volunteers have been working hard for four years to make this happen. It became one of eight  Amelander Musea . Being a volunteer, I  was invited in February by the museum working group to collaborate in the design of the underground space of the mill. Besides the whole construction, I was particularly impressed by the very long concrete wall which I thought should stay just clear and unfurnished bearing only some decor...

You'll Get Over It

  What could possibly happen? Something tragic, I assume. I am sure you can imagine dozens of situations where this setting could be possible. Regret, revelation, anger, shock, despair, compassion, support, consolation, reassurance, forgiveness, unbelief, doubt, fear... All of these might apply to the people in this painting. And all these are actually expressed with hands. And there will be nothing of these when you think those hands away, I'm afraid.   This is another small one in my series Hands' Private Life. I painted it all prima with my limited palette of Burnt sienna, Ultramarine blue, Yellow ochre, Cadmium red and Titanium white. As reference, I used the photographs Paul and myself took of me and my hands, in four different settings.    While thinking about how to name this piece, with my music on, the Legacy by PSB suddenly started to playback. The lyrics were so true, my mood was quite down, and the title was chosen. (And first I was thinking of calli...

Landscapes

  Study and Tell Here is a series of landscape paintings based on the photographs I recently took.       I am honoured to have been invited to share my painting process with the enthusiastic and talented local painters' club for the second season. Inspired by our sessions together, I recently created a series of quick and small landscape studies based on the beautiful surroundings of our village. This experience has provided me with a great opportunity to teach while also learning more about painting landscapes, composition, light, and colour. All three are oil on canvas board 20 x 20 cm, alla prima, limited palette. View the finished paintings in my  gallery .