16 January 2009

Godspeed, Andrew Wyeth


Andrew Wyeth passed away (in his sleep) yesterday at the age of 91.
As quite a fan of this American giant, I am saddened to see him leave the world and yet thankful that his artistic genius blessed us with an abundance of masterpieces that will be treasured always. I've decided to post an image of one of his self-portraits, Trodden Weed described elsewhere:
Among Wyeth’s many works that belong to his Pennsylvania experience, but not specifically the Kuerners, is Trodden Weed (1951), a picture reportedly admired by Nikita S. Khrushchev, depicting the booted legs of a man walking on a brown hill. He conceived the idea for the painting while recuperating from a severe illness, when he slowly roamed the fields wearing a pair of boots that had once been part of Howard Pyle’s costume collection and watching his feet and the ground beneath. The painting may symbolize death itself or man’s rejection of illness and death.
Thank you Mr. Wyeth. Godspeed.

5 comments:

Jennifer MacNeill said...

One of of the greatest artists to ever hold a brush. He will be sadly missed.

Ann Wilkinson said...

thank you for this post. What an incredible inspiration Andrew Wyeth is and will always be. Part of him lives forever through his art.

hello gorgeous said...

I was at the museum yesterday and saw this, which is my favorite.

It was a self-portrait of him walking down a hill near his house after recuperating from an intense surgery.

He loved those boots, which were Pyle's and a gift from Betsy; due to his still being unstable from surgery, he had to watch his feet and realized he was crushing everything in his path. That's the death it symbolizes, at least, according to the artist.

Unknown said...

I didn't know about his passing. "Christina's World' is my all time favorite painting.

Anonymous said...

This is a lovely tribute to Andrew Wyeth. I did not know about this painting. Thank you.