“You have your way. I have my way. As for the right way, the correct way, and the only way, it does not exist.” — Friedrich Nietzsche
Yes, individuality is key to what I’m going to chat about today. However, let me begin first by saying that the images I am going to highlight at the end of this missive are photos of real paintings from the impressive Dover Publications collection. For now, though, I ask your indulgence as I outline the rationale and thoughts that led to this choice.
I am the proud mother of four amazing children. Two boys, two girls, separated in total by 10 years they are all adults now, living their lives as fate or co-incidence ordained, depending on how you see it. As they leave behind, with all of the momentum of a speeding locomotive, their 20s and 30s, it is with an eye to the present, to the goals, dreams and passions that excite them now.
Four children, four very, very unique personalities formed in part by family placement, experiences and whatever particular genetics came their way. They are to me unique masterpieces — by equally unique artists.
If you could paint a personality, my eldest child, our son would best be done justice by the analytical discipline of Paul Cézanne. He is goal-oriented, deciding at a very early age that education was important and setting out to achieve his teaching degree. He takes his work and volunteer duties seriously, but has a wonderfully droll sense of humour that makes time in his company a fun thing. His circle of friends is large, encompassing people who share his myriad of interests. His loyalty to them, to his family and in areas of the heart is indisputable. The responsibilities he takes on often weigh a little heavily on his shoulders.
His first baby sister has a nurturing spirit and an intense love of nature and life’s simple things. She was a little mother to her younger sister and brother and a gentle caregiver if illness brought any of us down. The baby of the family for almost seven years, she possesses the seriousness of a role model for younger siblings as well as the lighthearted view of the family baby. Sweet and shy, she developed a mother tiger’s fierceness when challenges came to her or any of her loved ones. Over the years she has developed admirable strength and independence. It’s balanced by a smile that brightens a room, a perpetual giggle and a love for a good party. She is a Monet — light, life and love.
Conversely, it is the abstract, spirited work of Picasso that instantly comes to mind when thinking of an artistic style to define our younger daughter. From the day she was born there was a sense of independence, not based in strength as much as in the fact that she never sees the world the same way as anyone else. She is an eternal optimist, playful, open-minded and kind-hearted. She finds the beauty in every situation and every person. Given a task for which she is passionate she attacks it with verve, but has no difficulty in running from those she dislikes. There is a charming flakiness, a perpetual child within her that disarms you all the while you are shaking your head at something she has said or done.
Finally, our youngest. Colourful and charismatic, a musician of modest success, he is our Kandinsky. The guitar is as much a part of day-to-day routine as eating. The world he has created for himself takes shape from the music in his life — the places he has been, the people he has met, the pleasure it has brought him. From the start he charmed his way into the hearts of his family and strangers alike. He has been the love and the bane of his siblings’ lives, using wit to bewitch and tease. He is typically the centre of attention, even on the rare occasions he is being quiet and serious. When something interests him he attacks it with fervency — not always, admittedly, to the best results.
And so, these are the thoughts that inspired the selection of images for today. The vast Dover collection has rare and unique images and graphics, including these pictures of famous artwork:
