This week, an idea that has been bobbing about in my mind for a while now without form or structure. I’ve tried to realise it here but I’m not sure about the result; it will be interesting to hear your opinions.
PHOTO PROMPT © Jan Wayne Fields
Salvin writhed in his slumber, trapped in a painting. He knew it from the thick black outline round his shape; the mirror, creased in the middle and suspended from a staircase sweeping to infinity on the neck of a frightened horse.
The sun burnt fiercely with the promise inherent in bright colours waning to the calm of cobalt. Yet where he stood was arid.
Time dripped blood-like from a broken watch caught in the gnarled fingers of a dead tree. He recognised the tree in the mirror.
Snatching up brushes and violent hues, he lunged at the canvas and began, “Self-Portrait.”
Written for Friday Fictioneers – a 100 words story based on a photo prompt. Hosted by Rochelle. Read the other entries here.
(A short explanation: Van Gogh would often include a dead or dying flower or branch to represent himself in his paintings and obviously symbolism pervades most art. Here we’re supposed to be in an artist’s dream.)
I love this, Michael. It had a very dreamy quality to it.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, Dale
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very Salvador Dali. I think the self-obsession and the dream quality come through
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thanks Neil, I was trying to portray a generic idea of a painter as much as possible but inevitably my idea comes from the actual painters and that will come through
LikeLike
there’s deep feelings here crying out to be free. hope he succeeds.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, I was thinking of the passion Van Gogh had for his work so I’m pleased that came through
LikeLiked by 2 people
This is an interesting combination of visuals and feeling. Mirrors, horses, clocks, staircases then ~ the sun burnt fiercely. Thought provoking indeed. Thanks
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Alicia, I was wondering if it would be too much of a task to get it to work
LikeLiked by 1 person
I found that utterly fascinating. So much so that I read it again to savour the atmosphere your words evoked.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Susan, I’m pleased you liked it
LikeLike
I did the same thing, Susan. In fact, I’ve now read it for the third time.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Incredible description. Loved it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank-you
LikeLike
Pretty surreal! Nice vivid descriptions.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Draliman
LikeLiked by 1 person
Don’t you just adore Salvador! I am wondering whether the painting in the tale was created following a dream of his or whether your story is fiction, maybe from your own dreams. Either way it is exquisite and I loved it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. I named the artist Salvin as a mix of Salvador and Vincent as I wanted him to be an artist in general rather than anyone specific. Inevitably though the inspiration had to come from paintings I’ve seen.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh that name was clever.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think you’ve managed to achieve a good surreal story with your concept. Some of your sentences are very memorable, for example, “Time dripped blood-like from a broken watch.”
It seems to me that it could have enormous potential if you based a longer piece, or pieces, on it. It has many elements that can be treated dialectically for example freedom/captivity; self/image; finite and bounded/infinite reflections. And, of course, depending upon how much you know about art, you can allude to a millennium of visual art in the western tradition. Fantastically rich material!
Great concept, very good story!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Wow, thank-you very much for a great comment. I was trying to include elements of several paintings to avoid making it about a particular artist but have him trapped in his art and emotion, then the explosion of it coming out in his work. It was fun to write but difficult to be satisfied with. Difficult to be sure whether or not it worked in the final analysis.
LikeLike
I saw Dali’s The Persistence of Memory as I read this. Probably not the effect you were hoping for but I definitely had an artist and pictures in my mind before reading your explanation – an artist dreaming makes perfect sense.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Persistence_of_Memory
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dali was definitely one of the artists I had in mind, along with Van Gogh and others. I’m glad it made sense to you. Thanks for a great comment, much appreciated
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very dream-like. Great piece.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank-you
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dali-esque, intriguing, and portrays a tortured soul. I hope his painting will drive out the inner pain.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. I’m not sure these artists ever really manage to drive out their inner pain, they seem to spend their lives trying to do so and fortunately for us their pain gives us some great art
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Michael,
From an artist’s perspective I found this piece both intriguing and entertaining. Dreamlike, ethereal, strewn with color. A verbal painting well rendered.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Rochelle. I forgot for a moment you’re an artist and therefore it could appeal on two levels for you. I’m pleased you liked it.
LikeLike
Michael, I really loved this and your writing is just beautiful, especially for a lover of words and images. I don’t know if you saw that I’v been writing a series of letters to dead artists for my 2018 A-Z April Challenge theme. I think you might enjoy some of the artists I’ve covered…Dali, Van Gogh etc.
I stumbled across some very interesting links as well. I also came across a great movie which animates Van Gogh’s paintings…”Loving Vincent”. Have you seen it? It’s brilliant.
Best wishes,
Rowena
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, I’ll revisit your posts. I have the DVD of Loving Vincent and loved it. In fact I only buy DVDs if I really want to watch something over and over and that is definitely that I will. I found it a very interesting and thought provoking way of making the film. Last year I spent some time in Arles touring the places VG frequented and that helped with understanding the man and his paintings.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank, Michael. I’m much the same as you with DVDs. I don’t own many, although my husband’s bought a few. I also thought the film was very clever and it brought many things to life for me. Although the Yellow House was destroyed, I’d also love to get to Arles and look around, particularly after watching the movie and doing this research. I really watched to retrace that final period in his life. I agreed with the film makers too that his death was suspicious and it’s almost like revisiting the scene, even so long after the fact, might turn up a clue. Something they missed. Some evidence stashed away in a French farmhouse to this day.
Best wishes,
Rowena
LikeLiked by 1 person
There’s obviously a lot of traffic there now, the place would have been quieter in his day but other than the Yellow House it’s all there for you to trace. So sad he died so early and before proper recognition, even worse if his death was suspicious and not suicide or even accidental suicide.
LikeLike
It’s like living inside an Escher painting.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank-you. I’m particularly happy you saw Escher in the piece, as I wanted it to include elements of various artists
LikeLike
Great take and thanks for telling us about your inspiration for this.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank-you Yarnspinnerr
LikeLike
I feel there’s a lot of energy and emotional power in the imagery you use. Found I couldn’t really follow the story line, for example, not clear what part the mirror played. Seems full of potential to me and an interesting idea.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The mirror was creased which a mirror can only be in a painting or dream and in the mirror was reflected the tree, which was dead, but he saw the reflection as himself and hence started painting a self-portrait. This alludes to Van Gogh including dead flowers and branches as representations of himself in his paintings. Thanks for reading.
LikeLike
I thoroughly enjoyed this, Michael.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Russell
LikeLike
I think this fits very well with painters being brilliant but also insane… many of the best painters in the world ended up in mental hospitals… (quite a few writers too alas)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Bjorn. I’ve been to the asylum Van Gogh was in, in Arles
LikeLike
I love both Van Gogh and Dali but I did see more of Salvador in the piece than Vincent. There is a definite reference to Persistence of Memory. An interesting interpretation of the prompt. Well done.
LikeLike
Thank -you for the comment and apologies for the late reply, I didn’t see it come in. Although I was trying to make it about as many artists and none specifically I suppose it was inevitable that certain paintings and artists would come through above others.
LikeLike
If he has nightmares like this no wonder he paints the way he does!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, it’s his dreams exploding onto the canvas
LikeLike
What a great, intense, surrealistic dream. I suppose everyone who does something with great intensity works through it in dreams. And what a unique take on the prompt!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank-you
LikeLiked by 1 person
Art or dream. A great piece Michael.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks
LikeLike
I believe this piece could be related to so many artistic individuals, which gave me plenty to think about.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Mike
LikeLike
Nice!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks
LikeLike
This is so fascinating! Imagery, metaphor, dreams, self-image, you touch upon so much and weave it all together so well!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank-you very much
LikeLike