spellbound

i have friends who have this print in their bedroom. the first time i saw it i was spellbound. i couldnt stop looking at it. i wanted to have it...i wanted to ask if they would give me this mystery. i thought, "there is a story here and i need to know what it is!". i asked them about their print but they didnt know anything other than that they liked it. there didnt appear to be any signature on the painting, so no answers there either. its always bothered me. its like a mystery you want to know the answer to but you kind of dont too because it might spoil the enchantment...

yesterday i found out.

Andrew Wyeth, the painter of this work died yesterday. during a news piece on his life, they flashed this very picture. its called "Chritina's World" & it depicts a partially paralyzed girl (from polio) who lived on a farm with her family, near the painter. he was keen on this rural family and painted various members but this one stuck out. searching for more details i found that he technically used his wife for the pose, but it was inspired by watching this scene unfold with this neighbor girl.

ironically, my friends, the owners of the print, have a little girl who also has special needs. she will never be like other little girls shell always be behind intellectually and she'll always struggle physically; yet she too is beautiful. she brings great joy to her parents and is a delight to be around.

something about the print is just so painful and at the same time, lovely. broken yet beautiful. pained yet strong. it leaves me with a weird hybrid feeling consisting of hope & despair.