Shades

Posted byauthorstewPosted inpoetryTags:, , , , , ,
Prophet by: Emil Nolde
Shades
       Black and white
Why hast thou forsaken me?

  No color
The rainbow does not fill the page
     All the discourse seems black and white
Where are the shades?
       Nuance paints within the greys

Stark lines
 No curves or bends
Inorganic
  Artificial
Not like the tides or the waves
 It makes me sad
Like Jesus within the garden
 He wept

Shades
Black and white
No color
The rainbow does not fill the page
Stark Lines
No curves or bends

Just a touch of sadness
        With a bit of 
  shades

This was a very interesting prompt by dVerse. I recommend you click the link and read through it. To summarize the prompt was to write a poem about one of the pictures contained within the prompt. After writing the poem go to the second part. The interesting kicker is the second part. The paintings are by Emil Nolde a German artist of the 1930’s and 1940’s. Who rose to fame after WWII by proclaiming himself as being oppressed by the Nazis when in fact it was later discovered he was an ardent supporter of the Nazis. He was basically a oafish, belligerent, who took any position that would get himself the most gain.

The prompt then asked: Are the colors and feelings the same? Does the artwork have a new story? And, finally, are we separate from what we create?

For me I find the colors and artwork the same and the words of the poem I wrote remain the same but the meaning switches. I find it very interesting how the poem fits what I learned about the artist and the feelings they create. The story is not new per se but the overlay of the story changed. Now instead of being a general application it became specific to the artist; yet I can step back and see the original overlay of this being about any person or a general sense as well.

For me, the art is separate from the artist, in that, without knowing the artist or the artist’s story, the art is still there and still speaks. Yet the artist is also intrinsically part of the art, in that, the art is an expression of something within the artist, personal or otherwise. That expression is unique to the artist. Who the artist is is within their art.

I hope you enjoyed the poem! ☺

Published by authorstew

C. Stuart Lewis creates poems with feeling, intelligence and sex appeal. His short stories and books focus on characters that feel real in real world situations. Originally from the United States he now resides in Ontario, Canada. Check out his webpage at TheAuthorStew.ca

13 thoughts on “Shades”

  3. yep, no rainbow in that painting (or apparently, in Nolde’s soul … hah!). i like how you “worked” the Jesus theme into your poem (wept in the garden, why has thou forsaken me). captivating 🙂

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    1. Before reading the article I was more of the though ahh the artist is doing the beard, kind of long hair messiah type look, kind of has a bit of Jesus vibe. After reading it was more of the that was definitely more intentional, for a woe is me, persecuted type look. Same kind of feel but different motivations.

      Thank you for reading and glad you enjoyed!

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  5. Although I did not like this painting, I enjoyed your ekphrastic poem, Stew, and I think we came to the same decision about Nolde. I love the phrase ‘nuance paints within the greys’, and it is ‘artifical / not like the tides or the waves’, with ‘just a touch of sadness’. I also agree when you say, ‘the art is separate from the artist, in that, without knowing the artist or the artist’s story, the art is still there and still speaks. Yet the artist is also intrinsically part of the art, in that, the art is an expression of something within the artist, personal or otherwise. That expression is unique to the artist.’

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  8. I very much appreciate you sharing your experience, that the art remained the same for you, and the poem, just with somewhat different meaning. I had mostly the same experience, just that I saw a deeper sadness in the painting after I learned more about the artist.

    I like your synopsis of parts. The art is separate, yet the artist is a part of their art. It’s fascinating to me. Thanks for participating!

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