A Bookmark / Two-sided Collage & Thoughts about a Winter Scene

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This side, “Near Avercamp’s Castle”, 2022

This side, “Less Snark”, 2022 Paper collage, pencil, charcoal, ink.

 

Another two-sided bookmark - This one featuring the re-appropriated works of Hendrick Avercamp’s A Winter Scene with Skaters near a Castle and Adriaen Brouwer’s Youth (Pages 93-94 from a book about Vermeer). I wouldn’t say that these are my favorite works from the time but out of the two I personally prefer Avercamp’s winter scene. I like the use of circular framing - It reminds me of a wide angle photograph. I had only seen this image in black and white and found parts of the scene disturbing. (I brushed that feeling off thinking it was probably just the vibe of the 1600s…) But then I saw that the painting was actually painted in these lovely soft colors. It’s impressive that a bit of color can change the narrative so greatly! Still, I do wonder… What’s going on it the distance in the center of the image? There’s water, a person who looks to be struggling in the water, and to the left, what looks like a headless skater. In fact, I see a couple headless women in the background… For a better look-see, visit the National Gallery and zoom in.

 

Hendrick Avercamp’s A Winter Scene with Skaters near a Castle