I have to start off with my romantic Valentine's day art history image because I forgot to do it yesterday. I totally slacked off! This is The Kiss by Francesco Hayez. The date: 1859, medium: oil on canvass, and the style: Italian Romanticism - yes, that sounds like a test answer I would have written in a blue book many long years ago (it seems anyway) as an art history student. Isn't this painting beautiful and romantic and passionate?! I love it. Here's my little art schpeel on it. An interesting thing to note is that you can not actually make out the faces of either the man or the woman, so that the kiss is the emphasis. The woman is leaning back and the man leaning forward with his knee bent on the stair to support her. I'd say that is swoon-worthy. Then there is his general position, the sense of urgency to the kiss, and the dark figures lurking in the shadow of the doorway, leading you to believe he is leaving, in haste, and at any second something dangerous could happen to either one of them. It creates real drama and emotion. Is he an outlaw? Are they married? Has he been accused of a crime he hasn't committed and is running off before getting caught? Or is she married to or marrying someone else, but this is the man she really loves? You can make up any story for this lovely couple and put this kiss smack in the middle of it. I love it! And I love the satiny folds of her dress catching the light. It is a gorgeously rendered painting. Nice on ya Francesco Hayez! I think this is the perfect intriguing and passionate art image for Valentines day - or the day after Valentine's day. Next year I'll be better.
Every year I love this tradition even more. We had a breakfast of caramel pull-apart rolls together before Sophie went to school and everyone opened their valentines and books from moi. I got Adrian 2 dystopian classics: A Brave New World and The Giver. He loves dystopian literature. 1984 is like his favorite book. I think it's a tiny bit insane, but I love him so I love his dystopian-loving-ness. Sophie got another book in the Gallagher Girls series, Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy. Ben got a Goosebumps and Nina got a Tangled sticker book. I love giving books on Valentines day. It makes me feel warm and happy inside. The caramel pull-apart rolls do that too.:)
I love making holiday lunches and my kids get a kick out of them. I packed them homemade poptarts (Sophie's and Ben's favorite), heart shaped cheeses, strawberries with a bento pick, and Valentine candies.
Adrian and I both got to go to Nina's kindergarten Valentine's party. Adrian had a dentist appointment in the morning and could squeeze in the party before going to it. We helped Nina pass her valentines out and watched as she made a little valentines craft. It was very cute and I think she was tickled that both her mom and dad were there.
Adrian and I went out to our favorite Japanese hibachi restaurant and oh man it was good. This is I think our 3rd Valentine's date to this particular eatery. (We go there for anniversaries and birthdays too! Any special occasion calls for hibachi.) The steak at this place almost melts in your mouth. SO good. And of course it was wonderful to spend the night out together, talking about our lives, a little bit about politics, and swooning over the amazing food. Perfect. When we got home we watched the Valentine's episode of 30 Rock - the IKEA part made me laugh so hard! It was a great night and the box of Godiva chocolates from my husband made it even better. I heart Valentine's day.
2 comments:
The Giver is Scott's favorite book, and he is currently reading (listening to) 1984. He keeps trying to tell me that our tv is listening to us.
Oh, and those pull aparts look delicious!
So, that painting totally reminds me of the cover of a book I really loved, Keturah and Lord Death. Check it out :)
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