Ars Vbique Est
Our generously arced spigot
in the half-bath reflects
the faux-gilt and frilled
mirror of this home’s previous
owner into a semblance
of Munch’s screaming man,
but I am at relative ease so
acknowledge the pain the lips
on the chrome, pursed into an “O,”
express, wash my hands, pump
the dispenser of liquid lavender soap
so lose sight of the little
agonized simulacrum of the brush,
turn off the light, rest assured
the tortured face and matching eyes
will be waiting with their angst
and dread whenever I need a shot,
a taut perspective, of immortal gloom.
[Ars vbique est = Art is everywhere]
The Scream -- Edvard Munch
In 1893 Edvard Munch painted "Der Schrei der Natur" (The Scream of Nature), or "Skrik" (Norwegian for "shreik"). He made 2 versions in paint and 2 in pastels. One of the pastels may have been a preliminary study. The 1st painting was exhibited in 1893. The 2nd pastel was from 1895, and the 2nd painting from 1910. In 1895 he also made a lithograph stone, from which he made about 4 dozen prints before the original stone was resurfaced by the printer in Munch's absence.
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