Andrew Wyeth and "Christina's World"
What a wonderful first two days in Maine! I spent hours at the Olson House, the subject of numerous works of art by Andrew Wyeth, including Christina's World, 1948. Wyeth's series of drawings, watercolors and tempera paintings featuring Christina Olson, her brother Alvaro and the house itself, occupied Wyeth from 1939 through 1968.
Wyeth expressively documented life on the isolated, saltwater farm in many of his works. He said, "In the portraits of that house, the windows are eyes or pieces of the soul almost. To me, each window is a different part of Christina's life".
Look at my photographs to see the hill up which Wyeth watched Christina crawl because a disability prevented her from walking. See Wyeth's grave, 2009, where he chose to buried...in the Olson family gravesite, descendants of the Hathorn family. The Hathorn's settled the saltwater farm in 1743. They were seafarers and shipmasters.
On my second day in Maine I spent hours at the Farnsworth Art Museum where many of the three generations of Wyeth artists (NC, Andrew and Jamie) works are on display.
Andrew's home is across the cove from my cottage. It is a beautiful home with an awesome boat anchored in the cove. Though he died five years ago, the family still owns the house. To the left of the house and in a cleared opening is another Wyeth home, one of Andrew's relative.
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| Olson House |
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| Christina's Kitchen Window |
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| Christina's Kitchen Window from the Interior |
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| Andrew Wyeth's grave and tombstone |
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| The hill up which Christina crawled in the painting Christina's World |
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| Garden Shed on Broad Cove, my home for two weeks |
What a beautiful place to stay for 2 weeks! Aren't you lucky to visit where Andrew Wyeth and his family lived and worked! Did you paint any while you were there?
ReplyDeleteSee my comment below. I can't wait to get back to the saltwater farm!
DeleteEgretta: I lost your comment somehow; still I will reply. I painted plein air today in a working lobster village. I plan to get back to the Olson Farm in the next two weeks to paint it. I do love to paint architecture so I will enjoy this.
ReplyDeleteWhat a blessing Carol. If I had to chose just one favorite painting, Christina's World would be it. I saw it at a very young age and remember being so moved by it. Enjoy your stay there. Wonderful for you!
ReplyDeleteTomorrow I am going back to the Olson farm for two reasons: one to paint is it is not raining (that is expected) plus there is a lecture on the Wyeths and the Olson farm that draws a crowd. Each Thursday the topic is slightly different but I am told it is always interesting. I am so blessed to be here. There are so many things to see and do I can't get into painting; have no time as I have to include a vacation nap.
DeleteSounds like a dream. How did you come across this trip?
DeleteWhat a wonderful trip! ( hope that nap was a good one...)
ReplyDeleteSleep is eluding me here...same as at home. Naps are wonderful though I am often on the go and nowhere a couch or bed.
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