Sunday, November 30, 2008

Who stole the paintings?


I took this photo in an art gallery next to my home. I can't help thinking they had a hidden message to the artists in mind... Kinda: "sorry guys, but the paintings you ask us to sell are not worth any more than what they are framed in... As a matter of fact, even empty frames are sometimes better than your art!" And they proved it. PS: my thanksgiving party was really great, but now I have to digest all the food I had!

38 comments:

  1. A comment, a comment, my crown for a comment!!!

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  2. No takers? Fine!

    These are very nice frames and I have heard of people who hang empty frames on their walls. I personally do not know any such people, but I like the idea anyway.

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  3. Hey hey Cali you got it! I pushed them all sideways (in a ladylike manner of course with little finger posed upwards) but you decided not to throw it after all. Good for you!

    Eric I don't know why but I find the empty frames kind of freaky. A bit like headless ghosts. Brr.

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  4. I watched a show called "Rape of Europa" a few days ago. It is about the theft of art by the Nazis. One museum had three masterpieces stolen, but has recovered two of them. They still have not found the third: a Raphael. The museum holds a place on the wall of a gallery by hanging an empty frame with the story of the missing painting next to it. It's very touching.

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  5. That is touching, Jeff. I hope it's found one day.

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  6. Eric, I don't know if they told you, but there is also a tradition of napping after the big meal of "comfort" food. You may need several days to walk it off!

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  7. Well done Cali. You managed to get the GF with your second comment :)
    Keep going... still time!

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  8. Most galleries also do framing and matting. This window looks like an advertisement to me. These look like carved frames before they are gilded gold, silver, platinum, etc. Italy hand-carves a lot of frames, and are quite famous worldwide for it. The gallery in San Francisco that frames my work also frames for the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and they have hand-carved frames from Italy. The gallery I was using in Paris to mat my limited editions was Galerie Grillon -- they use Archival Museum Mat Board. They do outstanding work. There is a lot to be said about French expertise. BTW, I have never paid for a hand-carved frame. They cost a lot of money. They are very expensive. However, people that buy my work, spend thousands on the frames. Blush.

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  9. Funny storie: I was talking with a woman who has bought many of my paintings for her country home estate. (I went with her to supervise the framing. She spent thousands of dollars on the framing.) A couple years later, she said, "Oh, I re-decorated, and had your artwork re-framed to go with new furnishings." I fell silent. I thought to myself, that is so extravagant. Her world and my world are so different. It must be nice. hahahaha

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  10. thought provoking post Eric. I wonder what the real story is?

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  11. Hi Lily Hydrangea, I was wondering where everyone was.

    What makes these frames so perfect is that when they are carved, the joints in the corners are not fitted. Each frame is carved as a whole. Look at what is "normally" the joints on each of these frames, and you will see that it is one piece.

    Eric, So the name of the gallery please. I am so curious. Oh, I also, if the frames were made in France? That is just idle curiousity.

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  12. Eric as much as I like this photo with all the gold, I agree with Lynn that these empty frames look a bit ghost-like.

    Jeff I also thought of "Rape of Europa" when I saw this photo. I watched it the other day too, and was shocked and saddened and occasionally uplifted. That's such a must-see program about what happened to art all over Europe during WWII. It was on PBS, but maybe it's available on video. Guille I don't know if it's available in France, but you really should see it.

    Cali sorry I wasn't around to attempt to catch the crown from you today -- the fog burned off here in NoCal and it was such a nice afternoon that I was far from my computer. With your two-day run the crown must be getting awfully heavy. I'll see what I can do about taking it off your hands tomorrow!

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  13. well, as i just had my very first art exhibition two nights ago i am drawn to this photo! they say that frames are no longer the fashion... im not so sure! i like this shot, i like this idea. sometimes the frame is a work of art in its own right... and if you are gonna frame a painting, it should enhance the work otherwise, go without... or just hang a frame... sj

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  14. I think I saw this window as well Eric and if I remember correctly, it was just to put something in the window while they changed their exposition inside. You know, like they do when they change the clothes for the season in other shop windows.

    Speaking of shopping, anybody dare to go out and do the "after-Thanksgiving Day" sales? That was a big tradition in my family. My mom used to have a big sign and about 10 of us would go to the mall. It was more for the fun than for the bargains. Not sure I have the patience to do that now, but she did!

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  15. By the way, here's a link to the Zazzle card of yesterday's post. Pas mal!

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  16. Interesting shot ... This display looks rather large ... How tall is it?

    Carrie (for when you're around), I'm enjoying the details of your visit. I need to go back and read over comments of days I've missed. Has the Orangerie been open? (Are Monet's Nympheas still there?) And have you seen St. Etienne du Mont? (Forgive me if I'm asking questions about topics you have covered.) These are a couple of my favorite spots. I love Parc Monceau as well. Thanks for the virtual experience. ;)

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  17. These frames can be an art installation on their own.

    Elaine's right about the napping after a big meal — a lot of people do it here in the Philippines after lunch. Doesn't help that it's just way too hot at noon to work.

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  18. I like the photo - frames waiting to be filled. I get the haunted feeling, too. How interesting that we invest these objects with that feeling!

    Lois, thank you for pointing out that fact about the carving and lack of joints at the corners. I never would have noticed it and it's fascinating. Your expertise added extra interest to the photo for me.

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  19. Psrisian Heart -- yes, yes, and yes! Read on!! (Or back, I guess I should say!)

    Michael - The Black Friday shopping experience ain't what it used to be. I stay away. And, yesterday I read that a security guard at a SoCal Walmart was trampled to death when the crowd literally broke down the glass and metal doors and surged in. They were apparently also angered that they had to leave when the store shut down due to the death. Pretty sorry stuff.

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  20. oh that is gorgeous!!!! wow, it tells such a story.

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  21. I love the caption, the story that it can tell.

    Something to link with Eric's opinion -and modesty... who would explain to you, his faithfull PDPers who regularly comment here -and so well, that you are the worthy frames of his -wonderful- artistic photos... without which his photos wouldn't have the same flavor. Eric, I do hope you won't mind if I am saying that?
    Anyway, believe me as an observer more than someone who comments, frames and what they are framed in are worth matching together!
    Have a very nice Sunday everyone.

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  22. Rose and Michael you don't need to fight!!!

    I must confess one thing: the only sure thing about 2009 is that I AM going to Paris AND England, in which order, that is still going to be decided...

    Michael, what was that remark about extra weight??!!! I won't get fat because I'll compensate all the macarons that I'll eat by walking all over Paris, among other things, visiting all the museums that
    PHX will advise me to see (since she's the speciallist in parisian museums here!)

    See, I have a plan. ;-)

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  23. I can't help but find it interesting to see those empty frames, they look intriguing..

    By the way, I wonder if PHX has been visiting art galleries in Paris too as well as museums?
    Have you PHX? For instance, do you recommend any art gallery in the 6th? It is a region with so many of them I'd like to know if it would be worht paying a visit to one of them, but I would like an "inside" opinion.

    Maybe Guille who deals with art would have one particular gallery to recommend.

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  24. From Cali I see you got really good at the GF run!!!!!!!

    Congratulations for keeping your crown so fiercely!

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  25. This heart of mine was never framed.

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  26. Cali -- way to go, GF encore. I can't even try, since I'm at someone else's house, sneaking off to use their computer.
    Interesting photo, Eric -- it's so artless ;~}

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  27. Hey Cali, congrats on Gf!It's been like FOREVER. ;-)

    Eric...Wow, Paris and the art scene must be really going thru a tough time these days. ahem! ;-)

    Lois...your paintings don't really need frames, do they? lol They're "most beautifullest" enough without a darned frame. lol

    Carrie...I've been behind on my daily PDP fixes, so I've been getting caught up on all your adventures. Merci for some great writing. You really captured so much...you'd make an excellent tour guide of the magical city.

    BRRRRRRR...Paris looks cold these days. Is it more so than normal this time of year?

    Jeff...saw the same show you watched and was caught up in all the Nazi interest in art. Herman Goering and art? Who'd a thunk it?

    Monica...a shout out to you.

    Hey, be warm everybody! Ciao for now.

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  28. Thanks for noticing the one-piece frams, Lois. I had not enlarged the photo to see that. Frames can be a fascinating aspect of museum visits. I sometimes wish they would have some info about the frames as they do about the paintings.

    I will meet my travel partners for lunch today to reminisce about our 2008 trip to Paris. We'll be looking at pictures of some of you! Smile!

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  29. Anonyme at 1:23 pm what a charming thing to write. Eric, the Friendly Parisian, has created the warmest community. I think we initially arrive here due to our love of Paris which then extends to Eric and his merry band of commentators. Pick a name and join in the fun! A lovely Sunday to all.

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  30. P.S. Alexa: I know what you mean about sneaking off to use computers. Being rude has never felt so good. Or worth it! I got the freaking crown two bloody days in a row! Since this probably won't happen again I think the crown and I will spend some quality time at the beach. A little sand won't tarnish it, right?

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  31. I have awarded you a French Award!

    Here are the rules, if you want to play :)
    1. Please put the logo on your blog
    2. Place a link to the person from whom you received the award
    3. Nominate at least 7 or more blogs
    4. Put the links of those blogs on your blog
    5. Leave a message on their blogs to tell them

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  32. Art is empty of sense, art is meaningless, is that what you meant Eric?! ;)
    I really like this picture, we could debate about it for hours.
    I'm not sure the frames are empty because the gallery owner changed the paintings. You can't change a frame so easily, it means 2paintings of the same size, of the same period approximately etc.

    Monica, I know some nice galleries, I'll give you the links later.

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  33. We can wonder what will be put in the frames next.

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  34. Guille, what I meant was that while they were changing the gallery exhibit, instead of putting white paper or covering the windows like in clothing boutiques, I think they put these frames in as a decoration during the change.

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  35. Thanks Guille, I shall wait for those links. When you have time of course, don't worry about that.


    Coltrane: a shout right back at you!!!!!

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