Although, to be fair, I haven't indulged in 'arty-farty' for quite a while. I blame the National Review for printing an article on the man I consider, based on minimal knowledge (so no change there then!), to be the greatest painter of all time - Rembrandt van Rijn (1606-69). About 25 years ago I went to an exhibition of some of his works in London and as I went through the galleries I admired them but then I moved into part of the exhibition concentrating on his pictures of old men. At that point, I was transfixed.
Just look at that face. It has surely seen 'the best of times and the worst of times'. And look at those hands which display the patina of time.
And then there is this one:
The old Sinatra classic sums this up better than anything:
And now, the end is near
And so I face the final curtain
My friend, I'll say it clear
I'll state my case, of which I'm certain
I've lived a life that's full
I traveled each and every highway
And more, much more than this, I did it my way.
And then there is the artist himself, unafraid to reproduce his own likeness:
To me, these are haunting pictures, once seen, never forgotten.
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