SHOES

We're up earlier than usual, cuz the little sugar plum will be dropped off in about one hour.  It's a good thing we're up.  Otherwise, I'd not have seen the sunrise with which  Our Creator begins our new day.  

There's something glorious about this stage of a sunrise.  It's like opening the cover of a book and being presented with a new unread page.  Today is a total mystery.  Oh, we keep calendars and agendas, but never are we sure our plans will pan out the way we anticipate.  Life teaches this lesson sometimes in whacks and other times in nudges.  One thing for certain, a sunrise nudges me to genuflect.

Wish the lamp post wasn't right in line with our deck.  Our shepherd's hook can also be seen in the far right of the picture.  Let's give them a purpose.  Let's pretend  they represent the obstacles we face each day.  We face them, accept them and move on.

Shoes - 1888

In contrast to the prior two paintings of rugged boots, this painting is of a pair of shoes neatly placed on a tiled floor.  These shoes look like they belong to an urban environment.   Van Gogh gives the shoes character by leaning one against the other, like friends affectionately leaning on one another.   The diagonal layout of the floor tiles draws our eyes to the center and frames the shoes like the portrait of a person.  Note how he uses simple black lines to paint the shadow beside the shoe.  The one orange tile in the lower right hand corner of the painting contrasts with the other tiles.  Might it represent Vincent's personal view of life?  being different from others around him?  Might it represent loneliness, considering he placed the orange tile in a lower corner of the painting?🖌

Happy Valentine's Day!