Violet (and art by Matisse, O’Keeffe, and Rothko -Part 1)

VIOLET is the word for Suellewellyn’s challenge, which is to post a photograph, poem, story, or any genre we choose to depict the word.  I already wanted to share a post about ART from Matisse, O’Keeffe, and Rothko this week – and these just so happen to fit this word violet.  Here’s why.

For starters – The Fauvist painter – Henri Matisse has two paintings of women decked out in purple.

Two works are  Woman in Purple Coat and Purple Robe and Anemones:

 

However, did you know that violet has more blue in it than purple?  Well purple sits closer to red on the color wheel – and so purple is much warmer than violet.  

And so that leads me to Georgia O’keeffes’ lovely painting, White Rose with Larkspur No. 2.  – Because it has the cooler hue of “violet blue”  – and I love how the Larkspur anchors and pulls you through….

The third art picture that came to mind for this color word – is an untitled piece by Mark Rothko.  But here’s the thing.  There has been debate about this piece.  First, debate about the year it was made – recorded as 1952, but it may have been 1951.  Also, instead of leaving it UNtitled, the piece is referred to as Untitled [Blue, Green, and Brown].   

Did you notice that in the subtitle they do NOT list “purple” or even violet – but when you look at the painting it screams that hue.  Well it is likely because of the blue, or indigo, that the Rothko used as this piece unfolded.

(And I once heard that indigo and violet actually refer to the same sequence in the color spectrum , but indigo was left in to avoid using the number 6 – !#?)

Anyhow, Rothko is noted for changing his mind about finished pieces – which ties into tomorrow’s post, which will have part 2 on these three artists!

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In closing, while I know violet and purple are not exactly the same- but they are often used on the same value scale – and with that in mind – here is a fun Purple Poem by Jenny Joseph

When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
With a red hat that doesn’t go, and doesn’t suit me,
And I shall spend my pension
on brandy and summer gloves
And satin sandals,
and say we’ve no money for butter.

I shall sit down on the pavement when I am tired,
And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells,
And run my stick along the public railings,
And make up for the sobriety of my youth.
I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
And pick the flowers in other people’s gardens,
And learn to spit.

You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat,
And eat three pounds of sausages at a go,
Or only bread and pickle for a week,
And hoard pens and pencils and beer mats
and things in boxes.

But now we must have clothes that keep us dry,
And pay our rent and not swear in the street,
And set a good example for the children.
We will have friends to dinner and read the papers.
But maybe I ought to practise a little now?
So people who know me
are not too shocked and surprised,
When suddenly I am old
and start to wear purple!

*** Have a nice Monday! ***

I sure have enjoyed the creative takes on this word,

and I invite you to join in on the challenge, too.