An artwork on Galleree from The Art Institute of Chicago.
About the artwork
Hand Holding ClothLéopold Survage
French, born Russia, 1879-1968
1929
France
38.1 × 45.7 cm (15 × 18 in.)
Oil on canvas
Bequest of Mima de Manziarly Porter
['hands', 'landscapes', 'buildings', 'wind', 'trees']
['painting', 'modern and contemporary art']
** In the quiet embrace of the canvas, Léopold Survage invites us into a serene moment suspended in time. The hand, tender yet resolute, wraps itself around a billowing cloth, drawing our gaze to the gentle movement of the fabric as it dances in the wind. Above, a solitary leaf is carried aloft, whispering secrets of freedom and transience.
The landscape unfolds softly behind this act of holding; a tree leans with graceful resilience, its branches swaying like a lullaby under the watchful sky. The pyramid, a silent sentinel, stands firm on the hill, grounding the ephemeral dance of the cloth and leaf. Each element harmonizes, suggesting a deep connection with nature—an echo of simplicity and tranquility.
In this moment, we find a dialogue between stillness and gentle chaos, reminding us of the beauty found in the fleeting and the enduring, the captured motion of life enveloped within the gentle grasp of the hand. Survage's artwork becomes a meditation on presence, inviting us to pause and reflect on the small yet profound gestures that bind us to our surroundings, creating a tapestry of peace in a world that often rushes by.
About the artist
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