Artwork of the Week: The Yellow Books

The Yellow Books by Vincent van Gogh

1887 

Another surprising revelation of ordinary things: the library! Graham and I go to two different branches for story times and music/movement class at least twice a week, and while we're there, I'll usually check out a few board books for him. I never considered borrowing books for myself because I take FOR-EV-ER to read them and figured I would either end up with excessive late fees or returning them half-cracked. Then I read Alissa's post about Dinner: A Love Story and decided, you know what? I should check that out! So I went to my library's website and discovered that not only could I RESERVE BOOKS ONLINE, but I could also RENEW ONLINE! when the return date was approaching.  My whole literary world has been blown apart. I loaded up on cookbooks last week, including two on one pot recipes that I've been eyeing on Amazon for awhile. I may never buy another book again. 

I'd never seen this Van Gogh painting of books before, but apparently you can buy a print of it at Walmar. Look who's getting good at discovering things everyone already knows about.

- Cathleen 

Artwork of the Week: Violinist Seen from the Back

Violinist Seen from the Back by Vincent van Gogh, 1887

chalk on paper

image courtesy of the Van Gogh Museum

A sketch that I had never seen before by the late great Van Gogh. A beautiful example of hatching (parallel lines drawn closely together) and cross hatching (overlapping layers of hatching drawn at right angles), the definitions of which I never fully understood before. 

An expressive yet fairly simplistic line drawing with varying tones and texture. 

This sort of thing really thrills me.

- Cathleen