India - Contrast 12.28.2016

I'm at the Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena, CA today and am fascinated by Edgar Degas' work, Washerwomen. One particular painting, The Laundress, c. 1873, particularly caught my thoughts. Another, Women Ironing, c. 1875. He spoke of the hard-working women in such occupations. I thought of the men in such occupations, in the city of Kolkata. Samir, the laundry-boy; he's been at this for years! The walks to and from Mercy Hospital--who do we see doing laundry? Men! They wash, dry, press--all day long! It made me think about how I just pass by and not take a moment to really take in all the hard work. Additionally, I thought of Mother Teresa Centers, and the laundry assignment we are given. There actually IS a pattern to this hard work. It is not a frivolous occupation. There is a great amount of detail and we have much to learn! As I moved on in the museum, I came upon Edouard Manet's, The Ragpicker, c. 1865. How strange that I only recently learned of this term in summer 2016, "rag sorters." It was a blessing to me personally to care for these on just one day of our ministry. Again, I have much to learn. On to another artist at the museum who touched my very core and brought me back to India. The Produce Seller--works by Frans Snyder and Cornelis de Vos. One in particular, the painting, Still Life with Fruits and Vegetables, c. 1625-1635. Details I read about this painting were, "Our first impression may be of chaotic layering of fruits and vegetables. Closer inspection shows, however, in a manner that would be apparent to a 17th-century spectator, that the produce is arranged in a hierarchy reflecting value and rarity. Root vegetables are arranged on the ground, whereas highly prized peas and asparagus are placed in a basket at right." I thought of India again. I thought of the early morning travels of rural folk (farmers) who labor and labor. They arrive to the city to sell their produce along the streets--we see them on the way to Prem Dan, etc. I will take a better look at how she lays out her fruits and vegetables. Does she also arrange them in such a way? How the produce man at our own grocery store arranges them has come from instruction on how to place them. Nothing is chaos, really.

Comments

To leave a comment, login or sign up.