Category: Art

Vincent van Gogh, Greatness and Demise; An Afternoon in Auvers, France, 2012

On By mvschulzeIn Art, Buildings, Mystery, Photo, Pondering, Travel4 Comments

 

A flashback to an experience we shared on vacation two years ago.

Short on time? Just browse the images and click for full resolution. 

This post contains nine images.

As one of history’s creative luminaries, Vincent van Gogh, the Dutch post-impressionist painter, fit the irony linking talented genius with mental affliction, (as so well discussed in a recent article by Nancy C. Anderson, “The Atlantic” magazine, July/August 2014.) In his last days, at the age of 37, van Gogh resided in a small one room apartment above Auberge Revoux, an inn in rural Auvers-Sur-Oise, France, about 27 km NW of Paris. During the brief seventy days spent there in 1890, he was artistic greatness…..but dealing with demons,  eventually resulting in his probable suicide that spring. 

In September of 2012, Jeanne and I had the privilege of visiting this very special place, the experience intensified by gloomy weather befitting its historical nature. Below is a photographic taste of that day – a side tour from our Avalon Seine River cruise.

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Room #5, his room, preserved as it was with barely enough space for a bed and sparse furnishings – and place to hang and dry paintings

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Our small group walks along narrow lanes and thru evocative gateways as rain begins to fall under darkening skies…
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to the Romanesque/Gothic church, which was inspiration for van Gogh’s “Church at Auvers,” shown below.

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We continued with a slow-paced, contemplative walk up this primitive lane towards the hilltop cemetery, the weather suggestive of a day here 122 years earlier, imaged by the strokes of the painter – but emphasizing the brighter, sunlit foreground against the storm clouds as seen below.
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(This and other source credits to Wikipedia)
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And in the gentle peace of the light rainfall, but troubled sky, we paid tribute to Vincent and his brother, Theo, at the cemetery… their neatly tended graves seen below with one of our groups older members – he slowly walking past while paying his silent homage.
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As a post script, the man above, a solo traveler unknown to the 15 or so others in our group, caused some anxiety while we waited on the bus to leave the small village. The driver/guide and others looked in adjacent quaint shops and inns searching in vain, as the rendezvous time came and went. Perhaps in his early nineties, concern was universal among us. At the last moment, this quiet unassuming man appeared, slowly made his way down the bus aisle in silence as we all wondered where he had been. As he slowly and purposefully reached his seat – not even looking up – he unceremoniously said, “I’m sure you all want to know… her name was Annette!”

LETS GO TO THE TOP – A High Perspective (2nd edition)

On By mvschulzeIn Art, Buildings, New York, Photo, Pondering, Technology, Travel9 Comments

A Few Lighthouses

The top of each lighthouse is below including the date photographed

….followed by the full view and some Wiki facts

One
ONE – 9/29/13

 

TWO - 1/24/11
TWO – 1/24/11
THREE - 8/24/91
THREE – 8/24/91
FOUR - 10/14/02
FOUR – 10/14/02
FIVE - 5/20/95
FIVE – 5/20/95

   

And, the full views….

Barnegat Lighthouse, Barnegat Light, New Jersey (USA) 163' (50m) Built 1859
ONE – Barnegat Lighthouse, Barnegat Light, New Jersey (USA) 163′ (50m) Built 1859
Paradise Island Lighthouse, Nassau, Bahamas 67' (19m) Built 1816
TWO – Paradise Island Lighthouse, Nassau, Bahamas 67′ (19m) Built 1816
Gibbs Hill Lighthouse, Bermuda 117' (36m) Built 1844
THREE – Gibbs Hill Lighthouse, Bermuda 117′ (36m) Built 1844

 

Marblehead Lighthouse, Marblehead, Ohio (USA), Lake Erie. 50' (15m) Built 1822
FOUR – Marblehead Lighthouse, Marblehead, Ohio (USA), Lake Erie. 50′ (15m) Built 1822
Blackwell (Roosevelt) Island Lighthouse, New York, NYC 50' (15m) Built 1872
FIVE – Blackwell (Roosevelt) Island Lighthouse, New York, NYC 50′ (15m) Built 1872

As usual, comments are always appreciated

THANKS FOR VIEWING

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LETS GO TO THE TOP – A High Perspective (initial edition)

On By mvschulzeIn Art, Buildings, Mystery, New York, Photo, Pondering, Queen Mary 2, Technology, Travel12 Comments

Some Close-Up Views of the Very Top of  Four Iconic Landmarks 

Can You Recognize These?

(Full images follow below)

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ONE – 2012
27.041 11-5-75 NYC, Circle line around Manhattan_edited-2 - Version 2 - 2009-04-22 at 19-39-06
TWO – 1975
38.074 8-17-80 NYC Daytrip, Top of World Trade Center, H, J, S and M (5)_edited-1 - 2010-05-06 at 21-43-33
THREE – 1980
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FOUR – 2013

 

All four have two things in common:  New York City, (and at one time or another,) were the tallest buildings in the city.

Chrysler Building
Chrysler Building – 1930 to 1931
Empire State Building
Empire State Building – 1931 to 1972; 2001 to 2013
World Trade Center
World Trade Center  – 1972 to 2001

 

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One World Trade Center – 2013 to present

   

As usual, comments are always welcome.

THANKS FOR VIEWING

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Here Comes the Sun”

On By mvschulzeIn Art, Buildings, Hiking, Pondering, Science, Travel16 Comments

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Many years ago, I spent idle time at work, figuring where one would have to be to see the sun rise directly behind the Empire State Building. This morning, I braved the 14 deg, weather, ice and snow to do it again. I missed. 

The quarter-mile path to the exact spot was choked with snow and closed. 

However, below is the original, a little lacking in sharpness as I shot through a monocular back in the (gulp!) seventies!

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With yet another snow storm due tomorrow night, I think I’ll wait for next year to try again.

Images from Eagle Rock Reservation, West Orange, New Jersey

“New York” on Sunday

On By mvschulzeIn Art, Cruise ship, Photo, Pondering, Queen Mary 2, Science, Technology, Travel7 Comments

It’s January 15th, 2014, and winter is beginning to bother me! So I thought about a Sunday day trip we enjoyed last fall, when a half dozen “top ten” days were painting the NYC skyline day after day with breathtaking clarity and brilliance… 

(For best un-cropped results and full resolution,  click on the images.)

Arriving at the “Battery” from the Staten Island FerryImage

Buildings of the World Financial Center

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From the Governor’s Island Ferry, a surreal High “HDR” landscape view of Lower Manhattan

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On Governor’s Island

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Of Governor’s Island (left) with the sun playing on three major East River suspension bridges beyond. Can you name them, and the large building to the left?

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And finally, cruising south by ferry, looking back at the iconic old and new skyscrapers, followed smartly by none other than the stately RMS Queen Mary 2

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Likes and Comments are always welcomed

THE FISHERMAN at Montauk Point

On By mvschulzeIn Art, Photo, Pondering, Travel7 Comments

About three weeks ago, on October 13th, (2013) I came across this brave but happy soul challenging the elements at the very eastern tip of Long Island, NY. The prize was Striped Bass, or some other impressive catch of the season, …and the distant sea birds indicated conditions were good.

I admired his stature, his gear, his tenacity, but wondered about his sanity.   

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The lighting was breathtaking as sunlight painted the surf through broken clouds.

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Then, the sea surged – but THE FISHERMAN held his ground, er…rock.

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Just to my right, the historic Montauk Point Lighthouse stood majestically as the clouds came in off the Atlantic

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Please click on or stretch the images above for full resolution, and, as usual, comments are always welcomed. Thanks.

April In Paris … no, October In Paris – A Snippet from a Walking Perspective

On By mvschulzeIn Art, Hiking, Photo, Science, Technology, Travel13 Comments

Last year at about this time, we had the pleasure of walking along part of the Seine.  We explored the northern side of the Ile (island) de la Citi, upon which Notre Dame and other landmarks are located, …and across several downstream bridges, nearbyScreen shot 2013-10-21 at 8.23.22 PM

 

 From the river’s edge, and as seen under one of the arches of the oldest bridge in Paris, (Pont Neuf, 1578,) is the Pont des Arts and Louvre Museum behind.

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The bridge (pedestrian only) is one of several adorned with thousands of “love locks,” a fad started some years ago where-by lovers write their names on mostly brass padlocks, attach them to the wire railings, and toss the keys into the river. Another option, though seldom used, is tossing each other into the river! Some detractors of the practice would think that is the better option.

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 But perhaps one of the prettiest views in Paris is seen from Pont du Carrousel. Looking back from that bridge, are the two previously mentioned bridges and a world class autumnal view of the Ile de la Citi and surrounds including the Square du Vert-Galant, a wonderful little park on the very tip of the island (seen in the center with the trees in this image;) spires of Ste. Chapelle, (right of center;) and Notre Dame (far right, distance.)

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 After a sidewalk café lunch, our walk would take us to the beautiful Jardin (gardens) des Tuileries,  a World Heritage Site, with this view typical of its prodigious, colorful gardens and sculptures.

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Finally, after dark, the Eiffel Tower displayed its hourly light show, as seen here from the top of the 59 story  Tour Montparnasse.    Hi PS!

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