Outside the Caen-Normandie Museum of WWll in Caen, France.
That joyful moment in 1945.
Based on a photograph by Alfred Eisenstaedt which appeared in an issue of Life magazine in 1945, this sculpture has been much criticised by women’s rights groups since it was erected at the city-owned Mémorial de Caen. The French group, Osez le Féminisme, said at the time “we cannot accept that the Mémorial de Caen holds up a sexual assault as a symbol of peace,” but the city-owned Memorial de Caen refused to take it down. They based their objection on the fact that the sailor had been observed kissing ‘all he met, young and old’.
There are many copies of this sculpture (by Seward Johnson) in other parts of the world.
It was a silent Sunday until something stirred in the water: a fish, an insect, a thing from the deep? Whatever it was, it caused a ring of ripples in the water.
I didn’t think I’d have another picture to add to Jude’s White/Silver challenge but I suddenly remembered the whiteness of lovely Stavanger in Norway, and I offer a selection to link to Jude here.
I never thought I’d find a photograph that would show something in silver but guess what? I found one that I took a couple of years ago on quick trip from Vienna to Bratislava. I was looking for something else entirely and voila – there it was. So, my silver statue of a dapper, man-about-town off to the theatre, is my offering for Life in Colour – Silver.
In Spain for this Baroque Sculpture at the Casa de los dos Aguas in Valencia, the home of the Marquises of the same name. This mansion is now the home of the National Museum of Ceramics and Decorative Arts, and is located in one of the most central locations in the city, a Rococo nobility palace.
The interior is equally impressive, if not quite so ornate but I am always overwhelmed by the entrance which was made in 1745 and has reference to the two rivers of the Valencian community, the Turia and Jucar which are represented by two naked figures and the two urns of water at their feet, reference to the title of the Marquises (los dos aguas).
On one side are two crocodiles, a quiver of arrows and the water pouring from the vessel. On the other side is a reclining lion, another quiver of arrows and the representative vessel pouring water. I’ve enlarged only one of them (see below) just to show some of the detail without you having to click on the enlarging feature.
In the centre of the entrance is an image to the Virgin of the Rosary, patron saint of the House of Dos Aguas and at her foot kneel two women, one with a cornucopia of fruits and the other with a vessel from which pours coins. The whole is a riot of voluptuousness in true Rococo style. The virgin is a plaster copy made in 1855 as the original work disappeared at the end of the century previous.
The Museum is a worthwhile place to visit but if there is no time, the building of the Palacio de los dos Aguas is right in the centre of town and you can stand outside and look at it for free!
If you are into the Baroque – this is an impressive entrance.
Summer was yesterday, today reverts to normal English June weather. But click on the image and look there in the distance, two ladies sitting on deckchairs, the wind being deflected by a windbreak. Say what they like, but we’ve got grit in bucketfuls in the UK: it takes more than grey skies and chill winds to put us off sitting on the beach.
Two ends of the beach, mist coming over both. The right hand side image shows Shanklin on zoom setting viewed from the Pier at Sandown, about 3-4 miles away.
This month, Jude has asked us to find examples of White, so here are a few images taken today in my garden. Perhaps some, less botanical, during the week.
White Clematis
Daisies in pot beneath a common Clematis and the delicatate creamy Climbing Hydrangea
Nearly the end of May and I can still only find flowers to illustrate the colour purple. Nothing else catches my eye on my walk through the town so here are just a few garden flowers.
First up is the everlasting wallflower (Erysimum Bowles), much too big for its position right by my side gate and creeping over the steps, but the butterflies and the bees love it so here it stays. It’s not really purple, it’s what my generation would call mauve.
Erysimum Bowles or Everlasting Wallflower to give it it’s popular name.
Favourite pansies next, one bordering on blue perhaps but edging towards the purplish I think.
And lastly, lavender, without which no garden is complete. This one is a particular favourite and I’ve taken a cutting from a more sprawling version in the garden to have it outside my bedroom door.
MARI'S TRAVELS WITH HER CAMERA 