I think doves are beautiful birds, but for the most part, the white dove as a symbol of peace is too saccharine for my tastes. I think I've seen too many "peace" holiday cards, too many white dove ornaments perched on towering white wedding cakes, too many birds on the wing in celebration of Michael Jackson's not guilty verdict. I think it's the white-on-white or white-on-pastel color scheme that gets to me.
Picasso made several line drawings of doves on white backgrounds. They seem like quick drawings, and some even have a cartoonish look to them. The drawing pictured here is my favorite among Picasso's dove pictures. The black background makes the white dove, and the promise of peace that it symbolizes, appear fragile and endangered. The dove is not flying joyously, but stands still and distant against the dark smudges of background.
In times of war, I think this is what peace looks like.
Comments (3)
When I visited former Yugo in 1992, peace was anyplace that I could walk away from all the crazy people.
Posted by Joel | September 27, 2005 4:14 PM
Posted on September 27, 2005 16:14
Lovely thoughts regarding a difficult topic and a lovely painting.
Posted by Joe G. | September 28, 2005 7:38 AM
Posted on September 28, 2005 07:38
Love that picture!!!
I changed my URL - for your blog roll - it's now www.redwaterlily.com/blog
instead of /mtblog
Posted by redwaterlily | October 1, 2005 7:12 PM
Posted on October 1, 2005 19:12