Brenda recommended "Woman with a Pearl Necklace in a Loge" by Mary Cassatt. If you're not familiar with Mary Cassatt [1844-1926], please take the time to read up on her, she was one of America's best interpreters of the lives of women.
"Woman with a Pearl Necklace in a Loge" (1879) by Mary Cassatt.
according to Mother
a redhead should never
be seen dressed all in red
I wear a touch
in the most strategic places
--Mother did not raise a fool
© Diane Mayr, all rights reserved.
Khan Academy has a 5-minute video on the painting by Cassett, and, viewing it you will get a brief idea of the artist, the subject, and Paris in the late 1800s.
National Poetry Month is in full swing and today's Poetry Friday offerings are being rounded up by Amy at The Poem Farm.
The ironic tone in your poem is reflected so well in the painting, Diane. I enjoyed the video, wonder about Mary C's feelings about her sister? Great response.
ReplyDeleteI think I need to do more reading about Mary before speculating about her sister. Sibling relationships sometimes hard to unravel.
DeleteThis woman (girl, really) reminds me so much of my friend from across the alley growing up. Cassatt got the hair color and the skin tone perfect. Kelly would have appreciated the sassy tone in the poem!
ReplyDeleteIt reminded me of a friend I had, too. She was the one who told me she could never wear red.
DeleteI'd never seen this Cassatt painting before and enjoyed your interpretation. That bit of irony gave the poem a surprising punch. :)
ReplyDeleteLOL I like what you did with this, Diane. It's one of my favorite paintings. Cassatt doesn't get enough respect. She was outstanding.
ReplyDeleteHa! Your poem made me laugh. (And the redhead I raised wears plenty of red. Her mother did not raise a rule-follower.)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful painting and witty poem. Thanks for making me smile.
ReplyDeleteClever poem, Diane. It makes me smile as my redhead daughter-in-law wears red. Thank you for posting the video... very informative. Caught this from the video: Cassatt's "informality of loose brush work--an attempt to capture a moment in time." It made me think of the growing use of stylistic fragments in writing, especially in narratives.
ReplyDeleteIt feels as though Cassatt caught the subject of her painting in a brief moment of stillness and she is about to move again.
ReplyDeleteI was told that redheads couldn't wear purple either, but I can imagine our girl with purple flowers in her hair :-)
That's such a great 5 minute video. I got to know Cassatt a little bit in Jennine Atkins book, Little Woman in Blue. And, your poem. Love the sass that comes with a tiny bit of strategic red. Va va voom!
ReplyDeleteDiane this is a gorgeous post! Your poem works so well with the painting and feels so candid as if she's leaning over in her box speaking your poem lines to us. I'm familiar with the painting and of course Mary Cassatt, but not the video that was wonderful, what a treat. I hope I get to see an opera in the Paris Opera house one day, thanks for all!
ReplyDeleteMary Cassatt is one of my favorite artists. I have coffee table book of her work. Love your poem.
ReplyDeleteI love the tone of your poem and thoroughly enjoyed the video. Mary Cassatt certainly didn't let societal constraints hold her back, but I wonder whether her focus would have been different if she'd had full support and freedom.
ReplyDeleteI love the cherita--and Mary Cassatt. One of my English professors (that I worked for as an assistant) did research on Mary Cassatt and I had the pleasure of photocopying lots of information for her. She gifted me with a lovely book of Cassatt's paintings that I still have today.
ReplyDeleteMary Cassatt is one of my favorite artists, but this painting is new to me. I love this redhead's confidence!
ReplyDeleteI love the thoughts you've imagined for this redhead!
ReplyDeleteI want to be friends with her now, though without your poem, I would have felt less so! Love a redhead with that spirit! xx
ReplyDeleteDetails, details... it's all in the details! It's like she whispered her secrets to you, Diane.
ReplyDeleteI think I would do the same if I were a redhead. Thanks for reminding me of the cherita.
ReplyDeleteNice!!!
ReplyDeletemuch love...