Raoul Dufy, Sailor
Lithograph with pochoir colouring, 1920
PRAYER
after Guillaume Apollinaire, Prière
When I was a small child
My mother dressed me in blue and white
O Blessed Virgin
Do you still love me
I know
I will love you
To my dying day
Even if it’s all over
And I don’t believe in heaven or hell
I don’t believe I don’t believe any more
That seaman who was saved
Because he never once forgot
To say his Hail Mary
Was like me was like me
translation © Neil Philip 2011
Raoul Dufy, Amphitrite
Etching, 1930
I wish all my readers a merry Christmas, a happy Hannukah, and a peaceful and healthy New Year. I promise I will resume regular posts when circumstances allow. In the meantime I hope you enjoy these two prints by one of my favourite artists, Raoul Dufy, paired with a poem by his friend Guillaume Apollinaire.
I love Dufy (and Appollinaire too. What a great poem!) Have a wonderful holiday yourself Neil. I HAVE missed your posts, but life sometimes does take over! I hope it's all good stuff. I look forward to seeing more of your ever-fascinating information in the new year. Best!
ReplyDeleteMy guess is that the sailor is dreaming of the woman. It's impossible not to smile while looking at Dufy. Happy Holidays to you also.
ReplyDeleteNancy - thanks very much for your kind and quick comment, and I wish you and yours all the best for the holidays and the new year.
ReplyDeleteJane, I adore Dufy's light heart and love of life.
ReplyDeleteJoyeux Noël et bonne année en gravure…
ReplyDeletei recently saw a documentary on Dufy and was very much taken with him. and because we are all smiling now, do you know this ?
ReplyDeletehappy new year to you as well, Neil!
Funny video, Roxana - thanks for cheering me up.
ReplyDeleteWe are also big fans of Raoul Dufy, but just recently came across his brother Jean's work, have you seen it? Was it ignored because it was similar?
ReplyDeleteMore here about their tricky relationship and some pics. http://www.normandythenandnow.com/an-eye-for-beauty-in-le-havre/
Hi Normandy - Yes, I think Jean Dufy has been to some extent disregarded because his work is so like his brother's, and generally felt to be weaker. As you know, the brothers had a bitter falling-out when Raoul failed to credit Jean's extensive contribution to the mural La fée électricité (now in the Musée d'art moderne in Paris).
ReplyDelete