Thursday, November 06, 2008

Pointillism

There is this painting, housed in the museum of Fine Arts in Chicago called Sunday in the Park with George. It's featured in the movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off, I've seen it well over 20 times in person, and yet I am still quite enamored with the entire idea of Pointillism. It is this theory that when one looks at something close up, really focuses in, he sees nothing but a series of dots. It's really the big picture that makes sense. When one stands far from the painting, each individual dot blurs into this absolutely amazing piece of art.

If one stands too close to me, will he see only insignificant dots? Every little bit of who a person is may not exactly fit who he is as a whole. Push me away a little bit and you might just see the struggling teacher/mother/artist/lover. Hold me too close and you may only focus in on the pieces of me who want the laundry folded, the homework done on time, the support in a time of temper tantrum. Is this too much? Might one only want to look from afar?

The truth lies in the little pieces, up close and personal. If you don't like what you see, it may be time to switch to Impressionism where everything is one giant landscaped blur of color.