Thursday, March 26, 2009
Scene from The Wee Free Men
In The Wee Free Men there is a scene inspired by a Richard Dadd painting called The Fairy Feller's Master-Stroke. Click to see the Picture. I just noticed also that chapter 10 is titled "Master Stroke" just as a hint to an attentive reader (which I was not). Pratchett mentioned this in the Author's note at the end of the book. I would recommend giving the one page a quick read (I felt that it gave a small look in the type of person that Pratchett is to go along with his writing).
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The part about the painting was really interesting. There is another bit of extra information at the end of Hat Full of Sky, too. It has an author's bio and an interview. I found them very interesting as well.
ReplyDeleteI finished the book before I looked at the painting, and I was definitely surprised. I pictured the painting as brighter, yet still sinister looking. The actual painting was a lot darker and busier than I imagined. I also found the bio and stuff at the end interesting. And I think noonlight is a word that we should bring in to day-to-day vocab, haha.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the preview very much. It was rather convenient to get a sneak peek at what's coming up without having to walk the 10 feet to pick up the next book. Good marketing strategy on the publisher's part and the author too if it was a collaborative effort.
ReplyDeleteAs for the painting, for Dadd to have spent near a decade on this painting....it must have been a rather tortuous experience, at least from a slightly impatient person's standpoint. However, art in any form can be somewhat therapeutic, a good imaginative outlet for some. The picture provided on wiki is actually a much darker rendition. I looked at different image results that popped up for the painting itself and some of them are quite vibrant, but I think it's because of the increased sharpness and the noticeable contrast between overall muted tones in the painting and the sudden splashes of white in the flowers. The painting from afar appears to be very busy, so much so to the point where it forces the viewer to take a closer look upon inspection. Once entranced, the viewer (me) then gives thought to the minute details that are actually through each little segments of the painting. In a way, it seems like it is multiple painting all grouped up into one because there's so much going on. But I guess one has to be observant and suspiciously aware of his/her surroundings in order to spot such a phenomenon in the woods or wherever this painting portrays in the forest, so it's suppose to be hard to figure out from a distance. But then, isn't everything a mystery and unclear from a distance, just like people are? It is only upon a peaked interest and curious spirit that we take the time to get to know someone or about something.....[shrug]
That's a good analysis of the painting, Jen. In effect, it forces the viewer into the world depicted, into Dadd's world -- a world she might not escape from. Tiffany is nearly trapped there, certainly.
ReplyDeleteThose intrigued by Dadd's art definitely should visit the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore.